ASBURY PARK PRESS :: MONMOUTH EDITION

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WEDNESDAY 05.18.16

IN THE

LINE OF

FIRE
If the idea of lighting
up the grill makes you
nervous, relax, we have
you covered. Table, 1D

I thought this might be it.

PARKER DRAKE
OF HOWELL TOLD MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE

PLUNGE
RECALLED

Autistic man testifies about friends

dare, jumping into the freezing ocean

Sanders
has ballot
plan for N.J.
NICOLE GAUDIANO @NGAUDIANO

Alex Clark never aspired to become a sheriff.

But the 28-year-old lab manager entered the sheriffs race in Somerset County not to get the job but to
help his favorite presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, get a prominent spot on the states Democratic primary ballot.
Im not running a campaign, or raising any money
or spending any money, Clark said. I dont expect to
win.
In New Jersey, county clerks often determine ballot
positions by randomly drawing county candidates
names from a well-shaken wooden box. Sanders campaign says those drawings can favor establishment and
other candidates who are aligned or bracketed
with the county candidates.
See SANDERS, Page 8A

BOB KARP/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jenna Grippaldi (left) of East Hanover, Nicole Mita of East

Hanover and Jay Treubig of Whippany attend a Berne Sanders
rally in Morristown on May 7.

INSIDE
Democratic primary race too close to call in Kentucky. Page 2B

Toms River lawyer

indicted in $1.5M
theft from estates
PHOTOS BY TANYA BREEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Parker Drake testifies during the trial of Nicholas Formica and Christopher Tilton, the two men accused of coaxing the autistic
Howell man to jump off a jetty, before Judge Paul J. Capotorto in Manasquan Municipal Court on Tuesday.

KATHLEEN HOPKINS @KHOPKINSAPP

MANASQUAN - It started with a series of text messages and phone calls from two friends offering him
money or cigarettes or both to undertake a dare, Parker Drake told a judge on Tuesday.
It led the autistic man to the jetty here, where he
jumped off into the ocean and only then thought he
might die as a result, Drake said.
But first, his two friends gave him a written disclaimer that set forth the terms of their agreement and
held them harmless, and they told him to sign it, Drake
told the judge.
It said, I, Parker Drake, am willingly and not being
forced to jump into the Manasquan ocean, Drake said,
reading the document during a trial for the two men in
Manasquan Municipal Court.
The document also set forth the compensation the
two men would give Drake for his act and said, Chris
Tilton and Nick Formica are not liable for any injuries
or sicknesses, Drake testified.
Anthony Vecchio, who is prosecuting Tilton and
Formica for endangering the welfare of a mentally in-

For a series of videos on Parker Drakes testimony in Manasquan

Municipal Court, go to

The Senate advances bipartisan plan to provide $1.1 billion for Zika virus battle. 1B

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A lawyer from Toms River has been indicted by a

state grand jury on charges that he stole more than $1.5
million while representing the estates of five clients,
the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office said Tuesday.
In one instance, Joseph J. Talafous Jr., 53, who practiced in Jersey City, stole more than $400,000 from a
trust that was set up for a young boy whose father died
in a workplace accident, authorities said.
Attorneys have a duty to uphold the law and faithfully serve their clients, but we allege that Talafous instead broke the law to serve himself, acting Attorney
General Robert Lougy said in a statement.
The indictment supersedes a November 2015 indictment that charged Talafous with stealing from one of
his clients. Talafous had his license to practice law reSee LAWYER, Page 8A

Defendants Nicholas Formica (front) and Christopher Tilton

appear Tuesday in Manasquan Municipal Court.

See DRAKE, Page 4A

MICHAEL L. DIAMOND @MDIAMONDAPP

OPINION
SPORTS
TABLE
WEATHER
YOUR MONEY

12A
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6A

VOLUME 137
NUMBER 119
SINCE 1879