Judge Dismisses DeMarzo Indictment

COURT HOUSE —A Superior Court judge dismissed an indictment charging former Wildwood Mayor Gary DeMarzo with official misconduct, conspiracy to commit official misconduct and four other fourth-degree offenses.
Judge Albert Garofolo dismissed the charges that were brought against DeMarzo in March, 2011. DeMarzo pleaded not guilty to the charges April 20, 2011, several weeks prior to the May 2011 election, where DeMarzo lost his bid to remain Wildwood’s mayor.
According to the indictment, DeMarzo was charged with second-degree official misconduct and conspiracy to commit official misconduct and four fourth degree offenses involving misuse of funds and corruption of public resources.
The former mayor allegedly paid his attorney with city funds to represent him in a lawsuit questioning his ability to serve the city as both an elected official and an officer with the Wildwood Police Department. DeMarzo has since retired from the force.
“It was said in court that this was a politically motivated attack by the County Prosecutor Robert Taylor, used to embarrass, belittle and demoralize me and attorney Samuel Lashman 60 days before an election,” said DeMarzo. “The court deemed Mr. Taylor’s actions to be unconstitutional.”
“The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, the Division of Criminal Justice, reviewed and approved those charges and the evidence supporting them before the case was presented to the grand jury” said Taylor in an April 2011 interview. “The mayor’s claims of retaliation are not true.”
In an April 4, 2012 interview with the Herald, Taylor reiterated the matter was reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office prior to the matter being presented to the grand jury. The Attorney General’s Office approved the charges.
“Mr. DeMarzo’s allegations in his press release are false,” said Taylor.
DeMarzo called for Taylor’s resignation and disbarment.
“The indictment was devastating to me and especially hard on my wife, family and friends and for all those that were harmed by Taylor’s vindictiveness.”
DeMarzo also called for the resignation and disbarment of Wildwood City Solicitor Marcus Karavan.
“The close ties of these two men must now be exposed and begs the question of how much collaboration did the parties engage in to propagate these actions against Mr. Lashman and myself,” said DeMarzo.
“No one should have to endure the gauntlet that we went through,” said DeMarzo. “The citizens of Cape May County deserve better than a vindictive, self-serving, politically motivated prosecutor that continues costing the taxpayers much more than embarrassment.”
“In my opinion,” said Taylor, “the judge’s ruling was legally incorrect. We will review the opinion and probably appeal, or take other legal action.”