Egg-throwing incident nets 2 guilty pleas
BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer

LAKEWOOD - Charges were resolved late last year against four young adults who were initially charged with assault and bias intimidation against members of Lakewood's Jewish community.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of June 17 when police received a call regarding a red pick-up truck carrying several males in the bed and in the cab who were harassing residents at Fourth Street and Private Way. Police were told that eggs were being thrown by people in the truck.

The truck was stopped at the border of Howell and Lakewood on Route 9 at Alexander Avenue.

Police subsequently arrested the driver, Christopher Clauder Jr., 18, of Howell, as well as his passengers Christopher Balasone, 18, of Howell, Andre Ferreira, 18, of Howell, and Edward Fischer, 18, of Howell, and charged them with assault and bias intimidation.

The officers arrested three 17-year-old passengers in the truck and charged them with juvenile delinquency. Police did not release the names of the juveniles. It could not be determined on Feb. 29 what became of the charges that were lodged against the juveniles.

Capt. Michael Mohel of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office told the Tri- Town News on Feb. 29 that the assault and bias intimidation charges that had been lodged against the four adults had all been downgraded and remanded to the Lakewood municipal court.

Lakewood municipal court administrator Janet Wolchko provided information about the outcome of the cases against the four young men. All of the cases were decided on Nov. 19.

Two charges each against Balasone and Fischer were dismissed, according to Wolchko.

Ferriera was found guilty of violating a local ordinance for creating or causing a breach of the peace. He was fined $175 and assessed court costs of $33, according to Wolchko.

Clauder was found guilty of allowing passengers to ride on parts of a vehicle not intended for passengers. He was fined $56 and assessed court costs of $33, according to Wolchko. A charge of throwing objects from a motor vehicle was dismissed.