Executive Staff

​Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Christie Bevacqua

Christie Bevacqua is the Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor for the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Ms. Bevacqua joined the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office in 1998 after completing a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Barnett E. Hoffman, P.J.Cr. (Ret.).  Ms. Bevacqua is a member of both the New Jersey and New York bars.

She graduated magna cum laude from Monmouth College (now Monmouth University) in 1993.  She was awarded her Juris Doctor degree cum laude in 1997 from The Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America.

During her career, Ms. Bevacqua has been assigned to the juvenile, trial team, sex crimes and homicide units.  In 2008, Ms. Bevacqua became Section Chief of the Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit.  She spent 6-years in that position.  In 2011, Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan promoted Ms. Bevacqua to Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor, where she supervised Sex Crimes Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Megan’s Law units.

As Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor, Ms. Bevacqua continues to supervise the same units, in addition to the Trial Teams.  She has tried approximately 45 jury trials to conclusion, including aggravated sexual assault, murder, and official misconduct.

Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Brian D. Gillet

Brian D. Gillet is the Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor for the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Gillet joined the Office in January 2005, following a 10-year career with the New Jersey Supreme Court, Office of Attorney Ethics, where he served as the Deputy Ethics Counsel. In this capacity, Gillet investigated and prosecuted attorneys who violated the Rules of Professional Conduct. There, he argued over 15 cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court.

He began his legal career with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office where he served as an Assistant Prosecutor for 10-years. Here he served as the Appellate Supervisor, a Trial Team Attorney, the Deputy Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit, and the Chief of the Organized Crime Unit.

From 1988 thru 1992, Gillet was assigned as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, to the Organized Crime Strike Force at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark. There he investigated and prosecuted organized crime cases which originated out of Union and Middlesex County.

Gillet is a Certified Criminal Trial Attorney and a graduate of Seton Hall School of Law and Northwestern University.

In this Office, Gillet first held the position of Deputy Chief prior to his promotion to Chief of the Special Prosecutions Unit in 2007. As Chief of Special Prosecutions, Gillet supervised the Unit and tried Official Misconduct and Theft cases. In 2011, he became the Chief of the Appellate / Post Conviction Relief Unit where he supervised all appeals and applications for Post-Conviction Relief. In that capacity, he has argued numerous cases before the Appellate Division and two cases before the N.J. Supreme Court.

In December, 2013, Brian D. Gillet was promoted to the Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor.

Acting Chief of County Detectives, Paul J. Miller

A/Chief Paul Miller began his career in 1998 as an investigator with the Monmouth County Probation Department. In 1999 he graduated from the Somerset County Police Academy and became an investigator with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department where he spent four years in the fugitive unit.

In 2003, A/Chief Miller started his career with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office where after four years in the Sex Crimes/Child Abuse unit, he spent the majority of his career in Major Crimes. During that time, he investigated and supervised homicides, officer involved shootings and other high-profile cases. He also served on the Special Operations and Response Team (SORT) for fifteen years as an operator, Executive Officer and most recently as the Commander.

A/Chief Miller received his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice from Montclair State University. He is a graduate of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Police Organizations and he has lectured on several topics including officer involved shootings, resiliency and leadership topics.

Chief of Staff, Robert Merkler

Robert Merkler is the Chief of Staff of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.

COS Merkler joined the Office in 2005, following a 26-year career as a police officer.  He has an extensive law enforcement background holding all ranks within the police department; working in Patrol, Training, Detective Bureau and Administration.

He is a graduate of Trenton State College, now The College of New Jersey, and except for a brief period of time, has been a resident of Middlesex County his entire life.

In this Office, COS Merkler oversees budgetary and administrative support for the day to day operations of over 200 employees including Legal, Investigative, Clerical Support and Interns. In addition, he is tasked with policy formulation and planning future projects.