Barnegat Man Faces Attempted Murder Charge In Incident Outside Lighthouse Tavern

A Barnegat Township man has been charged with attempted murder following an incident at the Lighthouse Tavern in Waretown Saturday night, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford.

Michael Lombardo, 36, also was charged with aggravated assault.

At approximately 8:35 p.m., a 911 call was made reporting that an assault was taking place at the Lighthouse Tavern, located at 397 Route 9 in Ocean Township, or Waretown, according a prosecutor's office press release.

Officers from the Ocean Township Police Department responded immediately and discovered the victim, Robert Bethanis, 44, of Barnegat Township, unconscious, lying on the ground outside the establishment and suffering from serious injuries, the release read.

Bethanis was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, by emergency medical services personnel where he was currently listed in critical condition Sunday, Ford said in a prepared news release.

Interviews with witnesses to the assault revealed that Lombardo was observed striking the victim repeatedly with his hands and feet just outside the front door of the establishment, according to Ford.

Lombardo's bail was set at $150,000 with no 10 percent option by Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Brian Haggerty of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 929-2027 or Detective William Sneddon of the Ocean Township Police Department at (609) 693-4007.