Brick Man Indicted For Carjacking in Neptune
A Brick Township man was indicted May 1 by a Monmouth County Grand Jury which charged him with first degree carjacking and armed robbery at the Route 33 Walgreens in Neptune.
Michael Hodnovich, 29, was also charged with third degree theft and additional charges for unlawful possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose.
The incident occurred at about 11:30 in the morning of February 28 at the Walgreens Pharmacy on Route 33.
Police responded to a call about a car taken from a 78-year-old woman who had parked at the pharmacy and was preparing to go into the store.
She was accosted by Hodnovich who threatened her with a hypodermic needle and forcibly removed the keys from the womans hand.
He got into her car and drove away.
Neptune Township police conducted a search of the area and the womans car was found abandoned nearby.
Hodnovich was arrested a short time later without incident and was found with a hypodermic needle as well as the victims property.
The woman had minor injuries from the incident and was treated at the local hospital and released the same day.
If convicted of the first degree crime of carjacking, Hodnovich faces a maximum potential custodial sentence of up to 30 years in New Jersey State Prison.
If convicted of first degree armed robbery, Hodnovich faces a maximum potential custodial sentence of up to 20 years in state Prison.
Each of these two crimes is subject to the “No Early Release Act,” which requires that a defendant serve 85 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole.
Hodnovich is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of $175,000 bail which was set by Superior Court Judge Ira E. Kreizman.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said, “Hodnovich’s actions placed this victim in great fear and grave danger. Fortunately, the prompt and professional response by the Neptune Township police department resulted in the defendant’s apprehension. ”
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