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Wrongly Convicted Database Record
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Charge: |
Disorderly Conduct |
Sentence: |
$106 fine |
Years Imprisoned: |
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Year Crime: |
2013 |
Year Convicted: |
2014 |
Year Cleared: |
2014 |
U.S. State or Country of Crime: |
New Jersey |
County or Region of Crime: |
Monmouth |
City of Crime: |
Bradley Beach |
Result: |
Judicially Exonerated |
Summary of Case: |
"Charles Placa was wrongly convicted on August 20, 2014 of committing misdemeanor disorderly conduct in Bradley Beach, New Jersey on July 29, 2013. Placa's daughter has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. Placa's prosecution was based on the allegation of cashier at the beach that he used vulgar language when he entered a hut marked "employees only" to get a key to unlock a gate on the handicapped ramp at the beach. Placa, a 59 year old consulting engineer who lived in Milford, Ohio, refused to pled guilty. During Placa's bench (judge only) trial on April 24, 2014, he denied cursing at the woman, but acknowledged entering the hut after a beach-badge checker pointed it out as where he would get the handicapped gate key. In announcing his decision four months after the trial, the municipal court judge acquitted Placa of criminal mischief and defiant trespass, but found him guilty of disorderly conduct, and fined him $106. After his conviction Placa told reporters, "I guess it was expected, based on the arrogance at the beach when they arrested me and the attitude of the beach staff in not wanting me to get on the beach. I guess you could have scripted this. Placa appealed. On December 12, 2014 his conviction was overturned by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis Vernoia after a retrial. Judge Vernoia acquitted Placa in ruling, "The court finds that when Mr. Placa entered the booth, he did nothing more than ask for the key to the access ramp." Although Placa's lawyer Kelly Anderson Smith handled the case pro bono, Placa estimated he spent about $10,000 traveling four times from Ohio to New Jersey for court appearances, and his appeal. After his acquittal Placa told reporters, "It's not about the money, It's about satisfaction. My daughter definitely didn't do anything wrong, and I know I didn't."" |
Conviction Caused By: |
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Innocence Proved By: |
"On December 12, 2014 his conviction was overturned by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis Vernoia after a retrial." |
Defendant Aided By: |
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Compensation Awarded: |
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Was Perpetrator Identified? |
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Age When Imprisoned: |
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Age When Released: |
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Sex: |
Male |
Skin/Ethnicity: |
White |
Information Source 1: |
"Overturned conviction for man who wanted beach access, By Andrew Ford, Asbury Park Press, December 14, 2014" |
Information Location 1: |
http://www.app.com/story/news/crime/jersey-mayhem/2014/12/14/overturned-conviction-man-wanted-beach-access/20401183/?hootPostID=f312215835d1fadca2486b6a6ee2516d |
Information Source 2: |
"Man who wanted beach access for disabled daughter found guilty, By Kathleen Hopkins (@Khopkinsapp), Asbury Park Press, August 20, 2014" |
Information Location 2: |
http://www.app.com/story/news/local/neptune-wall/bradley-beach/2014/08/20/bradley-beach-handicapped-access/14347065/ |
Information Source 3: |
"A troubled day at the beach for family, By Kathleen Hopkins (@Khopkinsapp), Asbury Park Press, April 25, 2014" |
Information Location 3: |
http://www.app.com/story/news/2014/04/24/a-day-at-beach-unlocks-trouble-for-family-in-bradley-beach/8126965/ |
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Comments About Case: |
Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org