Charles T. Gatt
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 44-year-old CHARLES T. GATT of Sparta, New Jersey, on charges stemming from thefts in Bergen County, New Jersey. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck.
In January 2025, the County of Bergen conducted an audit of tools and equipment utilized by the Bergen County Department of Parks. Upon completion of the audit, it was discovered that multiple pieces of tools and equipment, including chainsaws, a large woodchipper, and a 20-foot dual-axle trailer, were missing. On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad was notified and initiated an investigation.
The investigation revealed that CHARLES T. GATT, who was previously employed by the Bergen County Department of Parks, committed the thefts. On February 11, 2025, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Investigations Squad executed court-authorized search warrants at GATT’s residence, upon multiple vehicles utilized by GATT, and at an additional property in Sparta Township, NJ, resulting in the recovery of equipment and tools stolen from the Bergen County Department of Parks. Additionally, detectives discovered seventeen unregistered firearms, including a loaded handgun that was left unsecured and exposed in the residence.
As a result of the investigation, on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, CHARLES T. GATT was arrested in Sparta, NJ and charged with second-degree theft, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3A; second-degree receiving stolen property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7A; second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4A (2); and fourth-degree possession of a firearm by a certain person, N.J.S.A. 2C:39-7A. GATT was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department, Paramus Police Department, Saddle River Police Department, Tenafly Police Department, the Upper Saddle River Police Department and the Sparta Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.