Middletown School Board Member Joe Fitzgerald Arrested On Illegal Gun Charges

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown school board member Joe Fitzgerald was arrested Monday and charged with a series of weapon possession violations, according to authorities.

As of Tuesday morning, he was being held at the Monmouth County jail. Fitzgerald was arrested sometime after 5 p.m. Monday, confirmed Middletown Police.

He was booked at the county jail Tuesday and charged with a total of six illegal weapons offense, including possession of a handgun without a permit and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The charges are:

• Unlawful possession of a weapon: handgun without a permit 2C:39-5B(1).
• Unlawful possession of a weapon: handguns/air/spring/pistol 2C:39-5B(2).

• Unlawful possession of a weapon: other weapons 2C:39-5D.
• Unlawful possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose 2C:39-4A(1).
• Unlawful Possession/Other Weapon 2C:39-4D.
• Unlawful Possession/Other Weapon 2C:39-4D.

Fitzgerald, a former U.S. Marine, served on the Middletown school board for the past three years; he was first elected to the school board in 2022. This was his first term on the Middletown school board, as board members are elected for three-year terms. His seat is up for re-election this November and he publicly said on his Facebook page that he intended to seek re-election this fall.

The Middletown school district has not yet released a statement.