Toms River Man Charged with Assault at Lakehurst Motel

A Toms River man was charged with assault on Wednesday after police said he attacked a woman at a Lakehurst motel room.

As a result of an investigation at the Mike O'Neal Motel, 56-year-old Francis Varga, a guest staying there, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of making terroristic threats, criminal restraint, false imprisonment, simple assault, and possession of marijuana, according to Lakehurst Police Department Sgt. Ronald Heinzman. 

The sergeant said that Varga told police that he "lost his temper" during an argument with the victim. 

The victim reported to police that Varga threatened her with a knife, held her down and choked her while being smothered with a pillow, Heinzman said. 

Varga was taken to the Ocean County Jail in Toms River on $25,000 bail with no 10 percent option, Heinzman said. 

The victim was treated for her injuries by medical personnel. Officer Jeffrey Emmons did the investigation and made the arrest. He was assisted by Lakehurst Officers Casey McPartlin and Roberta Brooks and the Ocean County Criminalistics Unit, according to Heinzman.