10-30-2011 New Jersey:STAFFORD — Authorities say a veteran Ocean County Prosecutor's Office detective who was facing child sexual assault charges apparently committed suicide this weekend.
Executive Assistant County Prosecutor Michael Palhus tells the Asbury Park Press of Neptune that Sgt. Ronald Velardi's body was found around 3 a.m. Sunday in a wooded area of Stafford Township, where Velardi lived.
Palhus said authorities had received "information" that led them to start searching for Velardi on Saturday night, but would not provide further details.
Velardi, who had served with the prosecutor's office for many years, had been suspended after his arrest in June. He faced four counts of sexual assault and three counts of child endangerment in a case that authorities say involved two girls. ..Source..
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Ocean County veteran investigator accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls
6-10-2011 New Jersey:
A veteran investigator with the Ocean County prosecutor’s office was charged today with sexually assaulting two underage girls.
Det. Sgt. Ronald Velardi, 44, of Manahawkin was arrested 10 a.m. while on duty at a satellite division of the prosecutor’s office in Toms River, said Joel Bewley, a spokesman for the Burlington County prosecutor’s office.
He said investigators had Velardi under surveillance prior to his arrest.
Although Velardi is an Ocean County resident, Burlington County authorities were called into the case along with the state Division of Criminal Justice to avoid a conflict of interest by having his own agency conduct the investigation.
Velardi, who has worked for the prosecutor’s office for at least a dozen years, was charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault and three counts of child endangerment, Bewley said.
Three of the sexual assault charges relate to one girl and the other sexual assault charge involves another girl, both minors, Bewley said. He would not say how old they are or how they know Velardi.
Authorities filed one child endangerment charge for each of the alleged victims and for a boy, who is also a minor, Bewley said. He declined to disclose the boy’s age or say how he knew Velardi.
The charges cover acts that allegedly occurred since January, Bewley said.
Velardi, who is married and has three children, is being held in the Burlington County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.
He was suspended without pay and had to surrender his firearms and credentials, Bewley said. Bewley would not comment on what may have been seized at Velardi’s Beach Lane home.
Velardi, who earns $99,993, was promoted to sergeant on Dec. 16, according to records of the Ocean County Board of Freeholders. If convicted of the sexual assault charge, Velardi could face from five to 10 years in prison.
Deputy Chief Michael Mohel, a spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor’s office, declined to comment on the arrest. ..Source.. by NJ.com
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