SECAUCUS – The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office will meet with a defense attorney representing suspended Secaucus Tax Collector Alan Bartolozzi on April 4 to reschedule his trial.
His Jan. 18 trial had to be postponed after Bartolozzi was rushed to the hospital just hours before jury selection was scheduled to begin in an alleged union theft case involving the former tax collector. He 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 more than two decades, Bartolozzi 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.
He 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 this case.
Bartolozzi’s hospitalization marked the third postponement for his union trial. Earlier trial dates had to be pushed back due to a long-running homicide trial before Judge Kevin Callahan, the judge who is also hearing Bartolozzi’s case.
Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor Leo Hernandez said it is his understanding that Bartolozzi has been given medical clearance to attend court proceedings. Hernandez said he will meet with Bartolozzi’s defense on Mon., April 4 to set a new trial start date. – E. Assata Wright