BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ – Two Brick Township women accused of hoarding and neglecting over one hundred dogs and 43 cats inside their home are in hot water again. Now, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is asking the court to revoke the couple’s pre-trial release.
On December 3rd, Aimee Lonczak, 49, and Michele Nycz, 58, were both arrested in a mass animal cruelty incident at their home, prompting a regional animal welfare and rescue response. 129 dogs and 123 cats were located and removed from the residence.
The two were arrested and charged but were granted pre-trial release under New Jersey’s Bail Reform Act.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer today said the women violated the conditions of their pretrial release.
On Thursday, staff members at the Ocean County Animal Shelter in Stafford Township, where some of the dogs rescued were housed contacted the Brick Township Police Department stating the women were at the facility and demanding the return of their dogs.
The shelter ultimately refused to turn over the dogs to the defendants.
“The actions of the defendants on January 19, 2023 violate the pre-trial release conditions imposed by Judge Daniels on December 8, 2022. As such, we have filed motions to revoke the pre-trial release of both Lonczak and Nycz. Based on their actions yesterday, we will be requesting that these defendants be detained pending trial,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
Under their pre-trial release order, the couple was not to have any contact with animals. They were also ordered not to be around their 16-year-old without permission from the Department of Child Protection and Permanency.
The daughter accompanied the women on their visit to the animal shelter, Billhimer said.