Judge Resets D'Angelo's Bail at $500,000 Cash
Saturday, September 27, 2014
press release
WOODBURY NJ (September 26, 2014)-- Saying he’s uncertain a lesser amount of surety will guarantee court appearances, a Superior Court judge today (9/26) removed the possibility of a bondsman posting bail for Jason D’Angelo (DOB 6/19/78), of Mullica Hill, who is charged with a series of bank and convenience store robberies beginning in December 2013 and ending last month.
Judge Kevin T. Smith reset D’Angelo’s bail at $500,000 with a cash-only requirement. His previous bail was set higher at $600,000 on 9/5 but permitted use of a bail bondsman who could require only 10 percent of the amount from the defendant.
In addition to the Gloucester County robberies in Williamstown NJ, Glassboro NJ, Mantua NJ and Pitman NJ, Judge Smith noted there were three others in Salem County NJ. “That enters into the calculus for me” in setting bail, the judge said, although the amount he set did not include the Salem matters.
As D’Angelo’s potential for a longer period of imprisonment increases based on the number of charges, the likelihood he will appear in court while on bail and awaiting prosecution is “diminished,” Judge Smith said.
“I do think full cash is necessary,” the judge said, because permitting the posting of 10 percent “doesn’t present to this court sufficient assurance he will appear.”
’Angelo’s lawyer had asked for either a “blanket” bail covering all Gloucester County cases or a reduction from his previous bail, saying that he is a lifelong county resident and a Clearview High graduate with “close ties with the community.”
Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Margaret Cipparrone took the position that bail should be set within the recommended range of the first degree charges and that a single blanket bail should not be set for all charges. Judge Smith set separate bail for the cases from each town.
The charges against D’Angelo include robberies of four banks and four convenience stores. Three of the stores were robbed twice. He is also charged with conspiring on most of the robberies with Joanna Probst (DOB 5/17/77), of Ewan NJ. The two were arrested 8/20 by New Jersey State Police.