Ocean Gate Mayor Receives Additional Charges For Theft

Mayor Paul Kennedy (Photo courtesy Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office)

  OCEAN GATE – Ocean Gate Mayor Paul Kennedy has now been charged with three counts of Official Misconduct along with three counts of Theft after allegedly stealing government funds.

  The additional charges were the result of an ongoing investigation revealing that Kennedy, 66, failed to give money he made through borough assets, using it for personal benefit.

  According to officials, Kennedy collected cash from selling scrap metal originating from the Borough Recycling Center and did not turn over the proceeds to the Borough. 

  In addition, he is accused of converting funds donated by contributors to “Friends of Ocean Gate” for his re-election campaign, as well as the campaign of his running mates, officials said.

It was also alleged that Kennedy leveraged his position with the Ocean County Buildings and Grounds Department by requiring certain employees within the Department to do construction work at his home located at East Lakewood Avenue in Ocean Gate, during which those employees were working on business hours for the county. 

  Kennedy was previously charged on March 18 with Official Misconduct and Theft. Those charges state that Kennedy had sold borough assets on the government auction website GovDeals.com and did not turn over the proceeds. According to authorities, he used this money for personal use.

  Additionally, detectives said that Kennedy failed to deposit borough parking meter funds in the borough’s bank account. He also sold borough office furniture through a private Facebook Marketplace account, with the intent of using the money for personal use.

   Kennedy was processed at the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and released on a summons pending a future court date.

  Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer acknowledged the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Professional Standards/Corruption Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crimes Squad, Ocean Gate Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.

  The charges referenced are merely accusations and the public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.