A Readington councilman will face trial in January after he pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to stealing six political signs earlier this year.
Police arrested Readington Councilman John Albanese Jr. in May when he stole a half-dozen political signs from public property — unbeknownst to him, those signs held hidden Apple AirTags that led police straight to the signs, which he had stashed in his garage. Albanese pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon in a Hightstown municipal court hearing, and Judge Seth Kurs said the trial would likely be scheduled for early or mid-January.
Notably, Albanese has admitted to taking the signs in court filings. A Superior Court judge dismissed Albanese’s attempt to dismiss the case — the Republican argued that the thefts were “too trivial” to prosecute. Superior Court Kevin Shanahan rejected that premise and returned the case to municipal court. The case has been transferred to Hightstown to avoid a conflict of interest.
The January trial will now see whether a judge believes the theft of the signs is worthy of a criminal disorderly persons conviction. Albanese’s attorney, Scott Wilhelm, said there would be a “number of witnesses,” and asked for a trial date during a quieter time of the season.
GOP factions in Readington have sparred since moderates in the town endorsed former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) over now-Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) back in 2022. The conservative faction, looking to tie Albanese and others to the Democratic former congressman, placed signs in the town reminding voters of an ethics investigation into Malinowski’s stock trades.
Albanese, during what he described as “a moment of poor judgment,” stole six such signs. The councilman gave the signs back, undamaged, when police came knocking.
Last month, the Hunterdon County Prosecutor charged two political allies of Albanese with planting a recording device at a local restaurant to record a private meeting of two elected officials who are Albanese’s rivals.