Ex-mayor, cop charged with raping underage boy will remain in jail until at least next week

Former Dumont Mayor Andrew LaBruno, charged with drugging and raping a teenage boy, will remain at the Bergen County jail until at least November 26 – the day before Thanksgiving — after a judge moved his first appearance bail hearing originally set for tomorrow morning.

Prosecutors allege that LaBruno sprayed an unknown substance into his hand and placed it over the mouth of a teenage boy, causing the incapacitated victim to become dizzy, and then forced him to perform fellatio on him.

The Jersey City police sergeant and former Assembly candidate is also accused of committing an act of sexual penetration through the use of coercion and without consent, and knowingly engaging in sexual conduct with a child

The New Jersey Globe has confirmed that LaBruno remains in a medical unit at the Bergen County Jail, where he has been since his arrest on Monday.  He was involved in an unspecified altercation, possibly with the victim’s father, and was arrested at a private home in Englewood by police after he had returned to the victim’s home to retrieve his cell phone.

Sources familiar with the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said LaBruno had met the child on a social media dating site.  The victim had been identified in court only by his initials, which the New Jersey Globe is withholding to protect his privacy.

LaBruno, who had been set to be promoted to lieutenant this week, has now been placed on leave without pay.

The hearing was originally set for 9 AM tomorrow with Judge Marc Ramundo; instead, he will appear before Judge Gary Wilcox, the Tik Tok judge.

As of yesterday, LaBruno was still being represented by a public defender; in court on Tuesday, Bergen County Presiding Municipal Court Judge Anthony Gallina suggested that a private attorney may be involved.  Based on LaBruno’s personal financial disclosures filed in the past, it’s unlikely that he will qualify for a public defender.

On November 4, LaBruno came within 1,888 votes of winning a State Assembly seat in a Bergen County-based district against incumbent John Azzariti (R-Saddle River).