By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on November 18, Charles Coley, 39, of Berkeley Township, pled guilty before the Honorable Dina M. Vicari, J.S.C., to being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Firearm in connection with an incident that occurred on June 11, 2023, in Manchester Township.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that at the time of his sentencing on February 7, 2025, the State will be seeking a term of five years in New Jersey State Prison, with a five-year period of parole ineligibility.
According to Ocean County officials, on June 11, 2023, Officers from the Manchester Township Police Department executed a motor vehicle stop on a Honda being operated by Coley for failing to observe a traffic signal in the area of Route 70 and County Route 571.
During the course of the stop, officials say, officers observed the barrel of a handgun on the floor in the backseat of the subject vehicle and subsequently recovered a loaded 9mm handgun from the vehicle.
Coley was taken into custody at the scene without incident, transported to the Ocean County Jail, and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform, Ocean County authorities stated.
Ocean County officials said that a further investigation revealed that Coley had a prior conviction for aggravated assault – making him a certain person never to lawfully possess a firearm.