mobanmarketFREEHOLD, NJ — A former member of the Manchester Township Board of Education has been sentenced to 5 years’ probation in connection the theft of more than $560,000 in jewelry and rare coins in 2020, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed.
Anthony Goltsch, who served on the Manchester school board for two months before his arrest in 2020, was sentenced Friday to 5 years’ probation and to complete restitution to the victims in the theft case, a prosecutor’s office spokesman confirmed.
Goltsch was the owner of the Golden Goose jewelry store in Rumson, and was charged in September and October 2020 with four counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property received after more than a dozen customers told authorities that Goltsch had failed to return jewelry left for repairs, redesign or consignment.
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The items in dispute were valued at $560,000, authorities said. Read more: More Charges As Manchester Man Accused Of $560K In Jewelry Thefts
Goltsch had been appointed to the Manchester Township school board in late July 2020 to fill a vacancy after another board member resigned, and was running for election to a full term when he was arrested. He finished fourth in the race for two seats on the school board, receiving more than 8,900 votes.
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Several of his victims later filed lawsuits against Goltsch over the failure to return the items, according to court records.
A settlement was reached in August 2022, with Goltsch pleading guilty to one count of third-degree theft by failure to make required disposition of property received, according to the prosecutor’s office. As part of the plea agreement, Goltsch was required to make restitution to his victims, and the lawsuits against him were dismissed, according to court records.
Goltsch, who sold his home in Manchester and has moved out of the area, “has been making restitution payments as the case has proceeded,” the prosecutor’s office spokesman said, “and has been ordered to continue to do so, with the totality of the payments due to be made by the conclusion of the term of probation.”
One of his victims said about $134,000 remains to be paid. Patch is seeking confirmation of that figure.
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