Wall man sentenced to 21 days in jail for harassing neighbors
Is free after five days pending appeal
A Wall Township resident was found guilty in Wall Township Municipal Court Aug. 9 and sent directly to the county jail for 21 days for harassing his neighbors, but was released Aug. 14 after an appeal was heard in Superior Court.
Robert Fuhr, 33, of Belmar Boulevard, was sentenced by Wall Township Municipal Court Judge Thomas Brennan to serve 21 days in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold. A no contact order was also issued which states that Mr. Fuhr is not to have any contact with his neighbors upon his release.
Wall Township Court Administrator Gail Connors said Mr. Fuhr was found guilty of one count of harassment, which included “burning large fires, creating excessive smoke, positioning spotlights on the victims’ house, tailgating the victim, and grabbing his genitals in an offensive manner as the victim drove past his house.”
The victim, Christine Szodoray, also of Belmar Boulevard, testified at last Thursday’s trial.
When reached by telephone, Mrs. Szodoray said she did not want to comment on the matter.
Mr. Fuhr, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was represented by attorney William Buckman, of Moorestown, and co-council Jeffrey Snow, of Riverside.
Mr. Buckman said his client’s sentence was appealed in Monmouth County Superior Court and Judge Betty Uhrbacher released his client Tuesday afternoon pending the appeal on $200 bail.
Mr. Buckman said, “It does not surprise me I got Robert out of jail.”
Mr. Buckman said there was a “bias on the part of the [Wall Township Municipal] court to get Fuhr into jail.” He did not explain why he believes such a bias exists.
“The judge, for whatever reasons, placed Robert Fuhr in jail knowing he could get out under appeal,” said Mr. Buckman, adding his client was “unduly punished and stripped of any rights.”
It was “inappropriate” of the court to sentence Mr. Fuhr to serve 21 days for a “petty disorderly persons offense.” Mr. Buckman said the charge is “akin to spitting on the street.”
On Sept. 9, 2006, Wall Township Police Lt. Robert Brice, Sgt. John Brockreide and Ptl. Jason Costantini responded to Mr. Fuhr’s house based on a complaint from Mrs. Szodoray’s husband, George Szodoray, about excessive smoke on their property and in their house from an open fire at Mr. Fuhr residence, according to the police event report.
The report also states that Mr. Fuhr had a “large oil tank … with the top cut off” in which he was “burning large logs and branches in.” The report continues, “There was no top or screen on the oil tank, and ash continuously came out onto me and the other officers, who were 15-20 feet away. Fuhr agreed to move his burning operation to the middle of the yard, away from the property line.”
Only one day later, on Sept. 10, police were called to the Szodoray residence for a complaint by Mrs. Szodoray, who, according to that day’s event report, stated that as Ms. Szodoray drove by Mr. Fuhr, “he reached down and grabbed [sp] his testicles.”
In a Sept. 3, 2006 police event report, Mr. Szodoray had called the police because Mr. Fuhr had a “high power spotlamp aimed at his home.”
The report goes on to state that the officer saw the lights “aimed directly at the complaintant’s home and property in a completely unnecessary manner and which appeared to serve no legitimate purpose.”
When asked by the officer what the purpose of the spotlight was, Mr. Fuhr responded, “so that he could ‘hear persons entering’ his perimeter.”
On May 18, at 6:30 a.m., police responded to the Szodoray residence after another complaint was made by Mr. Szodoray that “flood lamps were directed at his home.” It is noted in the police report that, “Rear flood lamps were noted as on, however, it was undetermined the direction of the lamps due to the morning light” and Mr. Szodoray was advised to contact the police “if the lights are on again during the dark hours.”
Later that same day, at 10:50 p.m., another call was made by Mr. Szodoray in regards to the flood lamps, according to police reports. It is noted in the event report that, “Patrols document that spot lights from neighbor Robert Fuhr are positioned toward” the Szodoray residence.
When asked if the allegations against his client are valid, Mr. Buckman said the “evidence is overwhelming it didn’t happen.”
Mr. Buckman also stated that a cross-complaint was filed by Mr. Fuhr against the Szodorays for harassment but Judge
Brennan refused to hear it.
The Szodorays have “continuously, frivolously, called the police against him [Mr. Fuhr] without basis,” said Mr. Buckman, so Mr. Fuhr “filed against them for harassment, as well.”
The attorney said that the Szodorays are engaged in a “campaign to harass” Mr. Fuhr and have been “improperly calling the police to his house.”
When asked for comment regarding the case, Wall Police Lt. Gerald Ihnken said, “We file charges, we make arrests, we testify, and the court makes a decision.” He would not comment further on the matter.
Mr. Buckman also stated that Mr. Fuhr has a pending case against him involving two Glendola Fire Department No. 1 officials, Chris and John Rosenfeld, who allege they have also been the victims of harassment by Mr. Fuhr. Mr. Buckman stated Mr. Fuhr also alleges the Rosenfelds have harassed him.
David Shotwell, of Ocean Grove, is the attorney representing the fire department in the matter.
“I cannot comment because it does involve a law enforcement investigation,” Mr. Shotwell said. He directed all inquiries to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office or the New Jersey State Police.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin said on Monday he would look into the matter.
New Jersey State Police Sgt. Stephen Jones, the public information officer, did not return a phone call as of press time.
In that case, Mr. Fuhr was arrested on Sept. 15, 2006 and charged with aggravated assault in the fourth degree and harassment for allegedly swerving his vehicle into the oncoming lane on Sixteenth Avenue. John Rosenfeld was driving in a marked fire vehicle on Sixteenth Avenue when Mr. Fuhr swerved in front of him.
Mr. Fuhr was arrested as a result of the incident. As per the terms and conditions of his release, former Wall Township Municipal Court Judge Evan Broadbelt had stipulated that Mr. Fuhr was not to have any contact with any Wall Township official.
As recently as Aug. 4, John Rosenfeld, who is the Assistant Fire Chief for the Glendola Fire Dept., reported to police that Mr. Fuhr was “sitting in a Jeep Liberty videotaping Station 2 [Glendola] actively responding to a vehicle fire on the Parkway” according to the event report.
The event report further states that, “Rosenfeld stated that he observed, who he believed to be a one Robert Fuhr sitting in the driver seat of his vehicle holding a videotape pointed at the fire trucks response.”
When Mr. Buckman was asked if his client broke the order to stay away from Wall officials in the Aug. 4 incident, he replied, “Videotaping someone is not having any contact with them,” and further stated, “Videotaping them would not be contact.”
There are a number of other instances where Mr. Fuhr has been accused of videotaping — such as the May 19 event report that states John Rosenfeld was attending a party and that “Robert Fuhr [was] operating a green Jeep Liberty [and] pulled up … and videotaped him,” and a July 7 report where the officer investigated a complaint that Mr. Fuhr was seen “videotaping WTPD [Wall Township Police Department] units” during a noise complaint response.
Mr. Buckman said he is representing Mr. Fuhr in this case, as well.
A court date has not yet been set for that case said Wall Township Municipal Joseph Prosecutor Defino.
