Man rejects plea deal in child sexual assault case

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - A 78-yearold township man who was charged with sexually assaulting a young girl when she was between the ages of 5 and 8 rejected a plea deal on Jan. 28

According to Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Laura Pierro,AlbertMandycz was offered a plea bargain to plead guilty to aggravated sexual assault, which is a first-degree crime. This would mean 10 to 20 years in a state prison.

However, the plea bargain made a recommendation thatMandycz serve only 10 years. He would have had to serve 85 percent of the term before being eligible for parole.

Mandycz denied the deal.

"He indicated that there was more to it and felt he had to go to trial," Pierro said.

Overall, Mandycz was charged with three counts of sexual assault, two counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted of all charges, he would face about 60 years in prison, Pierro said.

The prosecutor said that the assaults in question occurred between 1999 and 2002 when the victim was between 5 and 8 years old. There were approximately three separate occasions when the alleged indiscretions took place. The now 14-yearold female from Ocean County disclosed the information last year.

The trial has been scheduled to begin on Oct. 6.

- Chris Murino