Crimes Alleged In Toms River Campaign Texts Were Dismissed, Court Records Show

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Text messages sent out by Mayor Daniel Rodrick alleging crimes by Councilman Jim Quinlisk and Ward 1 council candidate Robert Bianchini over the weekend cite cases that were dismissed, according to court records.

The text messages, which were sent to voters in Toms River on Friday, alleged Quinlisk had "assaulted a woman and a disabled man while fleeing with checks," and alleged Bianchini had been "caught shoplifting multiple times at Shoprite on Fischer."

The texts were sent by the Save Toms River CTE Rodrick Polling and Voting, according to screenshots shared with Patch.

A review of court records and police records show the accusation against Bianchini to be a lie, and the accusation against Quinlisk to be a disortion of the police record.

Quinlisk is running for the re-election to the Ward 3 council seat and Bianchini is seeking to unseat Justin Lamb in Ward 1 in the June 10 Republican primary. Lamb and Harry Aber, who is running in Ward 3, are Rodrick's candidates.

According to New Jersey municipal court records, Bianchini was accused of shoplifting in January 2021, but that record notes the case was "dismissed by the complainant" two months later, in March 2021. See that record here.

The 2021 complaint is the only shoplifting charge in court records.

Bianchini, reached for comment, said the charges were dropped because the person who was seen shoplifting was not him.

He said the person who stole items from ShopRite that day had gotten hold of his wife's Price Plus card, and was only scanning some of the items they put in their bag. After the charge was filed, authorities reached out to Bianchini's wife, who told them it was impossible because her husband never did the grocery shopping.

"They did a facial recognition and I was cleared," Bianchini said. His wife sent authorities a photo of his driver's license and when it was compared with the photo of the man on security footage, it was clear they were different people.

Bianchini said a report Monday afternoon claiming he has been banned from ShopRite "is a bold-faced lie."

Quinlisk said the text claiming he assaulted a disabled man was false as well.

A police report from Englishtown dated Nov. 6, 2002 (you can read it here) was accused of simple assault in connection with a dispute with a former business partner. The charge was dismissed Nov. 14, 2002 with only a no-contact order.

Quinlisk, reached for comment, said he went to the business because his partner tried to withhold his paycheck.

The receptionist "tried to prevent me from leaving the parking lot by leaning against my door," and said he pulled away slowly.

"He's a desperate, desperate man," Quinlisk said, referring to Rodrick.