Crime & Safety

Resident Indicted on Car Theft, Check Fraud Charges

Grand juries hand up indictments

A Manchester man faces auto theft and forged check charges after being indicted last week by an Ocean County grand jury.

Timothy J. Fircha, 23, of Route 539 allegedly took a Manchester woman's 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis on July 13, the indictment states. Later that same day, Fircha withdrew $200 from the same victim's bank account by forging her name to the check, which was presented at Chase Bank, authorities said.

Fircha was charged with fourth-degree unlawful taking of a means of conveyance, third-degree uttering a forged instrument and fourth-degree theft by deception.

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He was initially jailed on $5,000 bail but posted Sept. 4, 2011.

Grand juries also indicted: 

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  • Jennifer L. Ridgway, 22, and Eugene Samuels, 31, on drug charges.

Ridgway, of Horicon Drive in Manchester, and Samuels, of Dupont Avenue in Seaside Heights, were arrested Sept. 22 in Seaside Heights and accused of having cocaine, heroin, alprazolam and suboxone, the indictment states.

The pair were each charged with four counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

Ridgway posted $25,000 bail Sept. 24, and Samuels remains jailed on $75,000 bail, no 10 percent option.

  • Louis Esposito Jr., 54, of Antiqua Avenue on a burglary charge.

Esposito allegedly entered a Ridgeway Road home on July 7. He was released on his own recognizance.

  • Garrett W. Billemeyer III, 30, on charges of threatening a Manchester woman with a knife.

The indictment states Billemeyer threatened to kill a woman on Feb. 26 while possessing a knife. He was charged with terroristic threats, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Billemeyer posted $25,000 bail on Feb. 27.


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