SECAUCUS – Jury selection in an alleged union theft case involving suspended Secaucus Tax Collector Alan Bartolozzi, which had been scheduled to begin Tues., Dec. 7, has been postponed.
Jury selection will now begin on Wed., Dec. 15 before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Kevin Callahan, according to Assistant Prosecutor Leo Hernandez.
The Bartolozzi trial had to be postponed, Hernandez stated Monday, because of homicide case in Callahan’s court that has run longer than initially anticipated.
Bartolozzi is charged with one count of theft by unlawful taking in the third degree for allegedly stealing nearly $25,000 from a municipal workers’ union. In addition to working as the Secaucus Tax Collector for 24 years, Bartolozzi had also served for many years in a voluntary capacity as treasurer of the Secaucus Public Employees’ Association.
Bartolozzi has pleaded not guilty to this charge.
This is the second trial postponement in Bartolozzi’s alleged union theft case. A September trial date was set then postponed to this month after Bartolozzi rejected a plea offer made by the Hudson County Prosecutor.
Bartolozzi has also been indicted on six counts in connection with his job as the town’s tax collector. He is alleged to have stolen $777,725 in taxpayer money over a period of several years.
Bartolozzi has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
No trial date has been set in Bartolozzi’s tax collector case.
For previous articles about Bartolozzi, use the archives in the upper left of www.hudsonreporter.com. – E. Assata Wright