TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion to revoke the pre-trial release of Aimee Lonczak, 49, and Michele Nycz, 58 after the couple embroiled in a mass animal cruelty case showed up at a shelter last week demanding their dogs back.
Judge Guy P. Ryan approved the motion filed by the office of Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer.
According to Billhimer, on December 2, police officers from the Brick Township Police Department were summoned to a residence on Arrowhead Park Drive in reference to an anonymous complaint that the residents at the address were running a puppy mill.
“”While speaking with the residents, Lonczak and Nycz, in the driveway of the residence, responding Officers could smell a strong odor coming from the residence and heard barking. Officers were subsequently permitted to enter the residence and immediately detected a strong odor and unsanitary conditions. Additionally, the Officers observed stacks of animal crates on top of each other with dogs and cats in the crates. Because of the conditions, the Officers were forced to exit the residence and requested that a Hazmat team respond,” the Prosecutor’s Office reported. at the time. “Rescuers in Hazmat equipment subsequently removed approximately 129 dogs and 43 cats located in the residence, and six dogs and one cat living in a vehicle parked outside the residence. Lonczak and Nycz – who resided at the residence with Lonczak’s 16 year-old child – were both taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.”
Billhimer said the coupe violated their pre-trial release agreement on January 19th.
The Brick Township Police Department was contacted by staff at the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter in Stafford Township. Management from the shelter reported that Lonczak and Nycz were at the shelter demanding the return of their dogs. The shelter ultimately refused to turn over the dogs to the defendants.
The pre-trial agreement directed the women to have no contact with he animals.