Point Beach Man is Charged with Sexual Assault and then Suspended from Ocean County Job

The investigation of the alleged rape of a 7-year-old girl that occurred in Point Pleasant Beach has led to the arrest and unpaid suspension of an Ocean County employee who lives in Point Beach, according to the county Prosecutor's Office.

Gerard P. Mennona, 62, of Chicago Avenue, was arrested on July 12 for allegedly sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl on June 27, said Deputy Chief Michael Mohel of the prosecutor's office.

On July 13, the day after he was arrested, Mennona was suspended without pay from his job as a data processing programmer/computer systems analyst currently assigned to the county’s Office of Information Technology, according to Keith Goetting, director of county Employee Relations.

"He is suspended indefinitely, pending the outcome of the criminal charges," Goetting said.

Mennona, reached by phone at his home on Thursday afternoon, said, "The allegations are not true. I'm not going to make any other comment."

He referred other questions to his attorney, Terrance Turnbach, based in the Brick office of the law firm of Starkey, Kelly, Bauer, Kenneally and Cunningham. He could not be immediately reached for comment.

The arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation by Point Beach police and the prosecutor's office, said Mohel.

Mennona is charged with two counts of second degree sexual assault, and one count each of criminal attempt of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, said Mohel, who would not say where the victim lives or any other details because the investigation is ongoing.

Mennona has been employed by the county since Jan. 21, 1997 at an annual base salary of $58,926, Goetting said, adding he does not know how much he has earned in overtime pay.

When asked if there have been any prior problems with Mennona, Goetting said he could not comment because it is a personnel matter.

Mennona was lodged in Ocean County jail on July 12 and released the same day after US Specialty Insurance posted a $100,000 bail bond.