Man Accused Of Sex Assault Of Brick Woman Seeks PTI: Report

A man accused of sexually assaulting a Stockton University student from Brick and posting videos of it on SnapChat is seeking entry into the state's pretrial intervention program, according to a report.

The attorneys for Zachary Madle have filed a letter asking a judge to allow the Wildwood man to enter PTI over the objections of the Atlantic County prosecutor's office, NJ.com reported Thursday.

Madle, 26, was indicted in September 2018 by an Atlantic County grand jury on two counts of invasion of privacy and one count of aggravated criminal sexual contact in a Feb. 15, 2017 incident that also is the subject of a Brick Township woman's lawsuit alleging he drugged her and sexually assaulted her.

The Atlantic County prosecutor's office rejected his initial request, saying he poses a danger to others and shows no remorse. His attorneys, meanwhile, say Madle is a smart man with a bright future who has a problem with alcohol and "hopes to overcome this mistake in his life," according to the report.

PTI allows some people accused of crimes to have their records expunged if they do not commit another crime and if they complete the program successfully. A hearing on the request is scheduled for Monday.

The indictment announcement said only that Madle was accused of recording a video of himself touching of a female victim "inappropriately" and without her consent and then posting the video to Snapchat. But it matches the details of a federal lawsuit filed in July 2018 against Madle and Stockton University accusing Madle, a Stockton alumnus, of raping her in her dorm room. The lawsuit also accuses Stockton officials of not pursuing the case after the woman, who was a freshman, reported it to Galloway police.

In the lawsuit, the woman says she was drinking wine and alleges Madle slipped a date rape drug into her drink. Her last memory before blacking out is of kissing Madle, according to the lawsuit. She woke up naked, confused and covered in vomit the next morning, according to the lawsuit, and discovered videos on Snapchat showing the man sexually assaulting her while she was barely conscious or unconscious. (READ MORE: Brick Woman Alleges Snapchat Rape, Says Stockton Ignored It)

The woman immediately reported the assault to police and to Stockton University officials, including the residence hall manager and the university's Title IX coordinator, and campus police. She underwent a sexual assault examination and DNA evidence from her body and bed sheets was provided, according to the lawsuit.

When she insisted police be contacted, Stockton refused to further investigate the assault, the lawsuit said. Stockton police filed charges against Madle in April 2018, but only alleging invasion of privacy.

The indictment occurred only after the lawsuit was filed. Madle entered a not guilty plea to the charges in October, the Press of Atlantic City reported.

Madle was accused in a second lawsuit by a Netcong woman of raping her after she intervened when he was approaching one of her friends. That woman's lawsuit, filed in August 2018, accuses Madle of choking and beating her in addition to rape.

Thursday's NJ.com report said Madle's attorneys say he should be a candidate for PTI because he is attending counseling and has an alcohol problem, and was intoxicated on the night of the alleged sexual assault. The attorneys said he has hopes of opening his own business.

"There is no benefit to be served by prosecuting a young man when his only motivation in life is to advance his goals in business, care for his blind mother and uncle, and live a law abiding life," the NJ.com report quoted the letter as saying.

Madle was accused in a second lawsuit filed in August by a Netcong woman of raping her after she intervened when he was approaching one of her friends. That woman's lawsuit accuses Madle of choking and beating her in addition to rape.

Five other lawsuits were filed against Stockton alleging Stockton officials failed to properly investigate or take action in connection with sexual assault reports. The university has declined to comment on any of the cases, citing the litigation.

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