Affidavit: Victims Punched, Kicked Until Unconscious

Two of the three alleged victims in an altercation near the Cook Plaza parking lot last month were punched while on the ground until they lost consciousness, including one who suffered a fractured skull and received four stitches, while a third suffered "numerous broken bones in his face" after he was punched and kicked while on the ground, according to complaints signed by a Madison police detective.

The three injured men, all borough residents, two 24 years old and one 23, were taken to Morristown Medical Center after authorities responded to a report of a fight, police said.

Later that week, three Madison residents in connection with the incident, which occurred around 1:40 a.m. Sunday, May 20.

Police initially reported four suspects were believed to have run from the scene, but on the day of the three arrests police said no other charges were being filed at that time. The arrests were made the morning of Thursday, May 24, after warrants were signed the previous day.

Police have said they do not know what started the altercation. An attorney for one of the defendants said last week he is waiting to review police reports and evidence, and declined to comment on the case.

The attorney, Peter Gilbreth, is representing defendant Anthony P. Albanese in the case and on a previous aggravated assault charge, which alleges Albanese punched a male numerous times in the face in the borough in March, causing "serious bodily injury," according to the complaint in the March incident.

Albanese, 18, is due to appear in court June 12 for both cases, Gilbreth said.

Matthew Marano and Anthony V. Costa, both 20, and Albanese are co-defendants in the May 20 incident. Messages left at numbers listed for Marano and Costa last week were not returned.

According to complaints signed by Madison Police Det. Edward Mitchko, Costa allegedly assaulted one of the alleged victims and is facing one aggravated assault charge, while Albanese and Marano both allegedly assaulted the other two victims and are each facing two aggravated assault charges.

Costa was released on his own recognizance and Albanese and Marano were released from the Morris County jail on $50,000 bail.

According to a complaint, one of the victims was knocked to the ground by Costa, who allegedly punched him in the face numerous times until he lost consciousness, "fracturing his skull and causing a cut that required 4 stitches to close."

A second victim allegedly was punched "numerous times in the head" and kicked four times by Marano while on the ground, "breaking numerous bones in his face," according to a complaint. The second victim also allegedly was punched numerous times in the face while he was on the ground by Albanese, breaking numerous bones in his face, according to a complaint.

The third victim was knocked unconscious after allegedly being punched numerous times in the face by Albanese, and punched and kicked numerous times in the face and head by Marano, according to the complaints.

The complaints did not provide other information about the incident or investigation.

Police previously said two of the alleged victims were unconscious when authorities arrived and the incident due to the severity of the injuries.

An attorney for one of the injured men declined to comment and attempts to reach the others injured or their families were unsuccessful.