Seaside church sex: Homeless woman denies allegations

Kala Kachmar | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Seaside Heights Church Sex: Woman pleads not guilty Seaside Heights Municipal Court appearance of Noelle M. Smart, accused of having sex on the grounds of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Seaside Heights.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS - A woman accused of copulating in the garden of a local church pleaded not guilty to lewdness and three related charges in municipal court Tuesday.

Noelle Marie Smart, 48, of no known address, told the Asbury Park Press that she and the man she's accused of have sexual intercourse with were homeless and staying behind the church, but that "the act of lewdness wasn't happening."

On the afternoon of May 22, a priest at Our Lady of Perpetual Help said he caught the two copulating in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary in a secluded church garden, which also happens to be across the street from the borough's police department and municipal complex.

Authorities said they were in "a sacred area" on the grounds of the Roman Catholic church.

A police officer in court on Tuesday — who said he was there when Smart was arrested — said the image was "burned into his mind."

Anthony Michael Getchius, 43, was also charged with lewdness, disrobing in public, possession of alcohol in public and public nuisance that day. His court date is July 11. Police described Smart and Getchius as drunk and homeless.

Smart also pleaded not guilty to disrobing in public, possession of alcohol in public and causing a public nuisance. A judge appointed Smart a public defender for her next court date, which hasn't yet been scheduled.

Kala Kachmar: @NewsQuip; 732-643-4061; kkachmar@gannettnj.com.