Bridgeton, NJ: Suspect in wife's death has court appearance

By JOSEPH P. SMITH
Staff Writer

BRIDGETON -- A Vineland man charged with shooting to death his estranged wife, in front of their two children, is headed for a May 16 trial.

Frank S. Bortle III appeared briefly Friday in Cumberland County Superior Court before Judge Benjamin Telsey.

Bortle, 48, appeared healthy, although the left side of his face is badly disfigured. He shot himself in the face in an apparent suicide attempt as police closed in on him. He was put in the county jail after recovering.

Bortle is charged with shooting his wife, Sharon, on Feb. 3, 2008.

Sharon Bortle, a 35-year-old teacher in the Vineland school system, had just driven up to his house to pick up their 9-year-old son. Their daughter, 4, was in her vehicle.

County Assistant Prosecutor Jon Reilly and defense attorney Chris Hoffner told the court there had been no progress in working out a plea agreement to avoid a trial.

However, the attorneys said they had no objections to the judge's suggestion not to stop negotiating.

Telsey set the plea cutoff date for April 15. After that date, a guilty plea normally can't be accepted under court rules.

Hoffner told the court he expects the trial to last two to three weeks. "Selection (of jurors) may be a little difficult," he added.

A change in venue motion was listed for Friday's hearing, but did not come up, although it may when the trial starts.

In June 2008, a grand jury issued a five-count indictment against Bortle.

The indictment alleges first-degree murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, aggravated assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.