Two Women Plead Guilty To Animal Cruelty & Child Neglect

60-Year-Old Brick Woman Pleads Guilty To Animal Cruelty & 51-Year-Old Brick Woman Pleads Guilty To Animal Cruelty & Child Neglect

Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 10:00 A.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ.- Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer reported, that on Monday, June 24, 2024, Michele Nycz, 60, of Brick Township, New Jersey, appeared in Ocean County Superior Court and pled guilty to two counts of animal cruelty in connection with an investigation that unfolded on December 2, 2022, in Brick Township, New Jersey.

     On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Aimee Lonczak, 51, also of Brick Township, New Jersey, appeared in Ocean County Superior Court and entered guilty pleas to child neglect as well as to two counts of animal cruelty in connection with the same December 2, 2022, investigation.

     In return for the guilty pleas, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office will seek 364 days in county jail as a condition of a probationary term for both Nycz and Lonczak. When sentenced on August 16, 2024, in addition to the county jail and probationary term, both women will be banned for life from owning, caring, or working with animals. The two will also be subject to community service.

     The guilty pleas stem from an incident that unfolded on December 2, 2024, when members of the Brick Township Police Department responded to a home on Arrowhead Park Drive, after receiving an anonymous report, that the residents of that address were running a puppy mill out of the house.

     Upon arrival, Police Officers encountered the residents, Lonczak and Nycz. While talking with the two, Police Officers detected a strong odor from the house and heard dogs barking. Police Officers were permitted to enter the house and immediately detected an intense odor and unsanitary conditions. 

     While in the house, Officers found crates containing dogs and cats stacked on top of one another. Due to the conditions in the house, Officers were forced to exit, the residence and requested a Hazmat team respond.

     Rescuers with Hazmat equipment arrived and subsequently removed 129 dogs and 43 cats that were located throughout the residence, and the bodies of two dead dogs. 

     Lonczak and Nycz, who resided at the residence with Lonczak's 16-year-old child were taken into custody and jailed after being formally charged. They were both subsequently released on bail conditions following a court hearing.

FILED UNDER: JUNE 26, 2024: LAW, LOCAL, OCEAN: