Seaside Park Beach Trips Net Trespass Charges For 3 Men

SEASIDE PARK, NJ — Three people are facing charges after they went to the beach in Seaside Park on Sunday despite Gov. Phil Murphy's stay-at-home order and in violation of the beach closure in the borough, the state attorney general's office said.

The borough closed the beach as part of efforts to enforce social distancing in the midst of the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Beaches and parks throughout Ocean County have been closed for two weeks after repeated incidents of large groups gathering despite orders banning gatherings.

In one incident, Jose Gonzalez, 20, and Gildaro Flores-Mendez, 30, both of New Brunswick, were charged with defiant trespass (petty disorderly persons offense) and violating the emergency orders for walking and taking pictures at the Brighton Avenue beach entrance, which they knew was closed. They were with two juveniles.

In the other incident, Konstanti Apessos Jr., 21, of Manchester, was charged with defiant trespass (petty disorderly persons offense) and violating the emergency orders for sitting on a lifeguard stand on the beach reading a book. He admitted that he knew the beach was closed, the attorney general's office said.

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