Bayville Man Indicted in Spree of Automobile Burglaries

A Bayville man is accused of targeting automobiles for burglary in a series of break-ins in Berkeley and beyond.

Jesse E. Walker, 23, of East Barnegat Avenue was indicted last week by an Ocean County grand jury and accused of entering or trying to enter 10 different cars on two dates this fall. Grand jurors also upheld two charges of theft after Walker allegedly stole a laptop computer as well as a GPS unit and cash from vehicles.

On Oct. 2 alone, Walker is accused of burglarizing the following vehicles:

• Buick LeSabre, Berkeley;
• Chrysler TWC, Berkeley;
• Nissan Murano, Berkeley;
• Jeep Wrangler, Berkeley. 

Walker also was charged with attempted burglary after he tried to break into a Ford Fusion in Berkeley, the indictment states.

On Sept. 6, Walker was allegedly joined by Melissa D. Fillingim, 21, of Ocean Gate in burglarizing the following vehicles:

• 2007 Chrysler, Berkeley;
• 1996 Honda Accord, Berkeley;
• Nissan Altima, Berkeley;
• 1998 Honda Accord, Berkeley;
• Cadillac CTS, Ocean Gate.

Grand jurors also upheld a theft charge against Fillingim for the stolen laptop.

Walker was released on his own recognizance, and Fillingim was initially jailed on $5,000 bail but posted Oct. 2.

Grand jurors also indicted:

• Keith B. Smith, 37, of Bayville on assault and weapons charges.

Authorities say Smith assaulted a man with a knife Aug. 23 in Berkeley. He was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon by a convicted person, as he previously had been convicted of aggravated assault in Hudson County.

Smith was released on a summons.