By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on May 2, 2025, Michael Vulpis, 26, of Freehold Borough, was sentenced by the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., to five years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in connection with an incident that occurred in Jackson Township on June 27, 2024.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer stated this sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act (NERA), meaning that Vulpis will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility.
Additionally, Judge Rahill sentenced Vulpis to 5 years NJSP - with a 42-month period of parole ineligibility – relative to his previously entered guilty plea to Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in connection with the same incident, OCPO officials say. The sentences will run concurrently. Vulpis pled guilty to the charges before Judge Rahill on February 3.
According to Ocean County officials, on June 27, 2024, at approximately 12:20 a.m., Officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to the area of Larsen Road for a report of a male victim having suffered a gunshot wound.
Responding Officers found a 27-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his face, Ocean County authorities stated. The victim was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of his injuries; he was treated and subsequently released.
OCPO officials said that an investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit revealed that the victim and a female were sitting in a parked vehicle outside of a residence on Larsen Road. A blue sedan then parked in front of the vehicle, blocking it in.
Two males exited the blue sedan, approached the vehicle, and knocked on the window. As the victim was exiting the vehicle, one of the assailants began to strike him, Ocean County authorities said. During the assault, one of the assailants shot the victim in the face. The assailants then fled the area.
Further investigation revealed that Vulpis was the individual who shot the victim. According to Ocean County officials, on July 3, 2024, Vulpis was taken into custody at his residence without incident, and initially charged with Attempted Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since his arrest.
Ocean County authorities say the continuing investigation revealed that Noah Phelps, 24, of Monroe Township, was the second assailant involved in the attack on the victim, and that Phelps and Vulpis conspired to attack the victim.
As such, on August 15, 2024, Phelps was charged with Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder; a warrant for his arrest was issued, and his name was entered in the National Crime Information Center database, OCPO officials stated.
OCPO officials said that on August 16, 2024, Phelps surrendered himself to the Freehold Township Police Department. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
During the course of the investigation, Detectives determined that Glenn Franzson, 32, of Jackson Township, and Vulpis had conspired to contact the victim in an effort to have him provide a false statement to law enforcement in reference to the investigation, according to Ocean County authorities.
As a result, Ocean County officials say Franzson was charged with witness tampering and conspiracy to commit witness tampering. On August 15, 2024, Detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on Franzson’s residence.
As a result, Detectives seized a quantity of Methamphetamine and a Polymer 80 handgun (ghost gun) with a high-capacity magazine, accoridng to Ocean County authorities. Franzson was taken into custody at the residence without incident. During a search incident to his arrest, Franzson was also found to be in possession of a quantity of cocaine.
As a consequence, Franzson was additionally charged with Possession of a Weapon Without a Serial Number, Possession of a High-Capacity Ammunition Magazine, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Methamphetamine, OCPO officials stated. Franzson was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
The charges against Phelps and Franzson remain pending.