Point Beach Man Involved In Garbage-Can Attack Gets Six Years In Prison

A Point Pleasant Beach man is the second of two men now sentenced for brandishing a knife and hitting their victim repeatedly with a metal garbage can before stealing his prescription drugs.

Anthony Kovolesky III, 42, of Point Pleasant Beach was sentenced on Dec. 10,  as a result of a guilty plea entered on July 30, 2013.

Judge Wendel E. Daniels  sentenced Kovolesky to six years in New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act, which means he has to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being parole eligible.

Kovolesky pleaded to multiple charges from the incident, which occurred outside a Point Pleasant Beach motel Jan. 19, 2012.

The charges are second degree robbery, third degree aggravated assault, two counts of third degree possession of a knife and metal garbage can for an unlawful purpose, two counts of fourth degree unlawful possession of a knife and metal garbage can, third degree hindering the apprehension of one’s self and fourth degree certain convicted felon not to be in possession of weapons.

All of these charges were run concurrent. Kovolesky has been in jail since his arrest.

According to Point Pleasant Beach police at the time, at about 1 a.m. that night, a resident of Chicago Avenue called the police department reporting a disturbance near his residence. The caller originally reported that the subject(s) were knocking over his garbage cans.

Officers Pete Andreyev and Andrew Meany responded and located Kovolesky further south on Chicago Avenue where a field interview was initiated.

Meanwhile, the Police Department received a call from an individual who reported that he was the victim of a robbery of his prescription medication and during the course of the robbery he was injured.

The victim, a 41-year-old male who was staying at a motel on Arnold Avenue, indicated that while outside of the motel he was approached by two individuals, including Kovolesky, whom he was familiar with, and another person he did not know.

He indicated that Kovolesky brandished a large knife and his prescription medication was stolen and they attempted to flee. 

A struggle ensued between the victim and Mark Wagner, 49, during which time the victim was struck repeatedly over the head with a metal garbage can. 

The victim eventually returned to his motel room and the suspects fled the area.

Kovelesky was positively identified and arrested at that time. He was charged with first degree robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and hindering apprehension.

The investigation continued throughout the day and, at approximately 3 p.m., Detectives Patrick Petruzziello and Clint Daniel identified and arrested Wagner. He was charged with one count first degree robbery. 

Both subjects were subsequently transported to Ocean County Jail and bail was set at $50,000.00.

The weapon (knife) used during the robbery was later located after the area was searched by officers.