Netcong man admits to threatening ex, cutting off her hair

A 20-year-old former Netcong resident pleaded guilty Tuesday to cutting off part of his ex-girlfriend’s hair and threatening to kill her and her friend with knives during a confrontation in 2013.

Edward J. Balcom II admitted to charges of criminal restraint, aggravated assault on both women, terroristic threats and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose before Superior Court Judge Stuart Minkowitz in Morristown.

In exchange for his guilty plea, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office agreed to amend original first-degree charges of kidnapping to criminal restraint and to dismiss multiple counts that include burglary, at sentencing time on May 29.

Defense lawyer Edward J. Bilinkas, who handled the case with his attorney son Edward M. Bilinkas, said the prosecutor’s office re-evaluated its case and made a plea offer of time served instead of a state prison term after he challenged the ex-girlfriend’s alleged inconsistent statements about the events of Dec. 8, 2013.

Balcom’s plea agreement calls for him to be sentenced on May 29 to time served -- or the 17 months he will have been held by then in the Morris County jail. He will be placed on probation and released to an inpatient substance abuse facility for at least six months of treatment. He must pay his ex-girlfriend $1,700 in restitution, undergo a mental health evaluation and complete the Abuse Ceases Today program for domestic violence offenders.

Bilinkas and the victim’s mother, who traveled from Florida to be present during the plea, said Balcom met the victim, his ex-girlfriend, when he was 17 and she was 12 years older than him. They shared an apartment together in Netcong. Bilinkas said Balcom was under the influence of alcohol and drugs during the confrontation on Dec. 8, 2013 at the Netcong Heights apartment.

Balcom told the judge he was at the apartment and heard the voice of a man, who left the unit and called police about 45 minutes later. Balcom said he put a couch in front of the door so that his ex-girlfriend and her female friend could not leave, stabbed a wall with a knife, threatened to stab both women if they called police, and used scissors to cut off some of his ex-girlfriend’s hair.

“We don’t condone our client’s behavior. He was under the influence of alcohol and drugs and made a huge mistake but it’s the one and only time he’s been in trouble,” Edward J. Bilinkas said after the plea.

Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.