WILDWOOD — The mayor of a South Jersey resort city has pleaded not guilty to an official misconduct charge. Wildwood Mayor Gary DeMarzo made a brief court appearance today. The Press of Atlantic City reports that attorney Louis Barbone entered the plea for DeMarzo. Cape May County prosecutors have charged that DeMarzo and lawyer Samuel Lashman improperly used public...
The Wildwood municipal building. The mayor pleaded not guilty today to an official misconduct charge.WILDWOOD — The mayor of a South Jersey resort city has pleaded not guilty to an official misconduct charge.
Wildwood Mayor Gary DeMarzo made a brief court appearance today. The Press of Atlantic City reports that attorney Louis Barbone entered the plea for DeMarzo.
Cape May County prosecutors have charged that DeMarzo and lawyer Samuel Lashman improperly used public funds to pay for DeMarzo's defense in a conflict of interest case in 2009 and 2010.
DeMarzo is a former Wildwood police officer who took a leave of absence from the force after being elected a city commissioner in May 2007.
He became mayor in December 2009. A court ruled that he had to resign from the police force in order to continue in office.
Lashman also entered a not guilty plea today.
Previous coverage:
• Wildwood mayor, city attorney indicted on official misconduct charges
• N.J. Supreme Court to decide whether Wildwood mayor can also be a police officer on unpaid leave
• Wildwood police chief sues mayor and city, charging he has been repeatedly interfered with
