Trial date scheduled for animal cruelty charges

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — According to Bloomfield Township Administrator Matt Watkins, a tentative trial date of May 26 has been scheduled in Bloomfield Municipal Court for Vincent Ascolese, the former director of the North Jersey Humane Society Shelter located in Bloomfield. Ascolese has been charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty.

Ascolese appeared in court in early April for a plea bargain which he rejected. Confirmed by his attorney, James Lisa, Ascolese was offered 30 days in jail; 90 days of community service; the loss of his Animal Control Officer and Animal Control Investigator licenses; a ban on working with animals for 25 years; and two years probation.

Ascolese was charged by the New Jersey Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in October 2015 for killing a baby deer on June 29, 2015, by slitting the throat of the animal. This method of euthanizing, called exsanguination, is unlawful in the state.

An animal control officer working for Ascolese witnessed the killing but was told by Ascolese to provide a false animal intake form that indicated the animal was unconscious and dead upon arrival to the shelter, according to court papers. The incident occurred in the driveway of the former Bukowski Animal Shelter, on Bukowski Place.

An Aug. 19, 2015, inspection of the Bloomfield animal facilities revealed an improperly sheltered dog named Benny who had sores on all legs and required veterinary care. Also, a baby squirrel was found with its eyes closed and “without proper food, shelter, nutrition, and veterinary care for two days,” according to court papers.

Lisa said the plea deal offered was unfair.
“This is a sledgehammer-to-the-fly approach,” he said in a telephone interview earlier this week. “The people of Bloomfield are jumping up and down and they don’t know what it’s about.”

Lisa said he wanted people to know the good his client is still doing for animals. He referenced a CBS News report that mentions Ascolese.

“He’s working in other communities with what he does best,” Lisa said. “He’s rebuilding his business.”
In the online CBS News report, a North Bergen private home was found to contain 32 adult dogs, 17 puppies, and five cats, living in “deplorable conditions.” Eleven cats and one dog were also found dead.

The news account reported that Ascolese, of Bergen County Protect and Rescue, said the animals were being de-flead immediately because they were covered with them.

“Eyes, ears, nose and mouth,” the fleas covered the animals, Ascolese is reported to have said.

Lisa did acknowledge that Ascolese “got in trouble years ago for tax evasion” but did not know if he received a prison sentence. But according to Ralph Morotti, the Bloomfield Police Department spokesperson, Ascolese served time in a federal penitentiary, although he was uncertain of the offense for which he was incarcerated.

Lisa said the trial would be in Bloomfield Municipal court before a judge.
“This is a witch hunt,” Lisa said.