A Middlesex County Superior Court judge has overturned the criminal trespass conviction of YouTube creator Matt Dolitsky, known online as Matt from Two Feet Outdoors, in a case involving his exploration of a decaying 110-foot yacht in a muddy creek in Sayreville, New Jersey.
The case was reported by Suzanne Russell of MyCentralJersey.com and AJ McDougall of NJ.com, both of whom covered the Superior Court ruling and the facts surrounding Dolitsky’s appeal. According to their reporting, Dolitsky had previously been convicted in Sayreville Municipal Court after boarding the vessel, known as the Blue Jacket, which was located near the South River on property connected to Viking Marine Terminal.
Dolitsky’s legal troubles began after he posted a November 2024 YouTube video showing his exploration of the abandoned-looking yacht. NJ.com reported that the video drew nearly 350,000 views. Dolitsky maintained that he did not see clear warning signs, did not realize the yacht was privately owned, and believed it had been abandoned.
On June 4, State Superior Court Judge Robert Jones reversed the defiant trespass conviction, finding Dolitsky not guilty of that criminal charge. The judge instead found him guilty of violating a local Sayreville ordinance, reducing the original fine from roughly $1,000 to $400.
A key issue in the appeal was whether Dolitsky had adequate notice that he was trespassing. According to NJ.com, Judge Jones ruled that a faded warning sign on the property did not provide sufficient notice. MyCentralJersey.com similarly reported that the sign was central to the judge’s finding of reasonable doubt.
Dolitsky’s attorney, Jacob Uriel, said the ruling showed the importance of a careful and fair review of the facts.
“This verdict shows that when a judge is thorough, thoughtful, unbiased and applies the law correctly, justice happens,” Uriel told MyCentralJersey.com.
NJ.com also quoted Uriel as calling the result a vindication, saying it showed “that justice is possible when a judge takes the time to fairly and competently apply the law and evidence.”
The municipal court had previously ordered Dolitsky to stay away from the Viking Marine Terminal property. According to both MyCentralJersey.com and NJ.com, the Superior Court judge did not reimpose that stay-away order, though Uriel said Dolitsky does not plan to return to the site.
The property owner, Kersten Kortbawi, had argued in municipal court that warning signs had been posted for decades and that the industrial property was not a place for public exploration. NJ.com reported that new signs and security cameras have since been installed at the terminal.
What this case really shows is that trespass charges can turn on small but important facts. Clear notice, visible signage, intent, and the condition of the property all matter. Here, the Superior Court found that the evidence did not support a criminal trespass conviction.
Sources
This post is based on reporting by:
Suzanne Russell, MyCentralJersey.com
Article: Judge overturns Sayreville yacht trespass conviction
Published June 8, 2026.
AJ McDougall, NJ.com
Article: A viral video of a decaying yacht in a N.J. creek led to a criminal conviction — until now
Published June 8, 2026, updated June 8, 2026.
