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Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II

Police & Fire
'Distressing': Chess Club Teacher Sexually Assaulted North Jersey Student, Authorities Say 'Distressing': Chess Club Teacher Sexually Assaulted North Jersey Student, Authorities Say
'Distressing': Chess Club Teacher Sexually Assaulted North Jersey Student, Authorities Say Matthew Swajkowski, a 36-year-old Verona resident and teacher, was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a student, prosecutors said. Swajkowski oversaw the chess club at Verona High School and the victim was a member of the club, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II said. Police began investigating Swajkowski in July  and determined he engaged in sexual conduct with the minor and also gave them alcohol, Stephens said. Swajkowski was arrested on Friday, Sept. 22, Stephens said. Prosecutors did not say how old the victim is, but noted  "while the ag…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Car Thief Charged In Hit-Run Crash That Killed Girl, 5, Crossing Newark Street: Authorities Car Thief Charged In Hit-Run Crash That Killed Girl, 5, Crossing Newark Street: Authorities
Car Thief Charged In Hit-Run Crash That Killed Girl, 5, Crossing Newark Street: Authorities A car thief has been charged in a January 2023 hit-run crash that killed a 5-year-old girl and wounded her dad and 2-year-old sister while they were crossing a Newark street, authorities said. Suhrell S. Proctor, 23, of Newark, was behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle when he struck the girl and her dad as they crossed 6th Avenue at North 9th Street on Jan. 31, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II and Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said. The man and his 2-year-old daughter were hospitalized while the 5-year-old girl was pronounced dead around 6:30 p.m. Pr…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
16-Year-Old Boy Dead In Crash At One Of Essex County's Largest Parks 16-Year-Old Boy Dead In Crash At One Of Essex County's Largest Parks
16-Year-Old Boy Dead In Crash At One Of Essex County's Largest Parks A 16-year-old boy from Glen Ridge died in a crash at Brookdale Park late Saturday, Jan. 15, authorities said. The boy was a back seat passenger in a vehicle carrying three other minors that crashed on West Circuit Drive in Bloomfield around 11:30 p.m., Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II said. The juveniles were taken to local hospitals, where the boy was pronounced dead at 12:04 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Crime Scene Investigations Bureau (CSIB) was investigating.

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Prosecutor Probes Crash That Killed Essex County Woman Prosecutor Probes Crash That Killed Essex County Woman
Prosecutor Probes Crash That Killed Essex County Woman Police are investigating the cause of the car crash that killed a 70-year-old woman in Roseland on Monday afternoon, authorities say.  First responders were called to the 100 block of Eisenhower Parkway at around noon on Jan. 9 for a reported two-car accident, acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II said in a release.  One of the drivers, 70-year-old Christine Perrella of Caldwell, was rushed to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center where she later died from injuries sustained during the crash, police said.  No charges have been filed, but Stephens said county det…

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by Mac Bullock
Police & Fire
Couple Found Dead In Irvington Murder-Suicide Couple Found Dead In Irvington Murder-Suicide
Couple Found Dead In Irvington Murder-Suicide Two people died in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide Thursday, June 9 in Essex County, authorities said. Police responding to Adams Street in Irvington found Daquasha Jackson, 31, and Dane Lawrence, 32, dead with apparent gunshot wounds before dawn, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, said. They were pronounced dead at 3:53 a.m. The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force tips line at 1-877-847-7432 or 1-877-TIPS-4EC.

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Homeless Man Stabs Another Dead At Newark Shelter, Authorities Say Homeless Man Stabs Another Dead At Newark Shelter, Authorities Say
Homeless Man Stabs Another Dead At Newark Shelter, Authorities Say A 31-year-old homeless man stabbed another dead over the weekend at the homeless shelter they had been staying at in Newark, authorities said. Kevin T. Williams, 34, was rushed to University Hospital after being stabbed by Michael Wylie at the shelter on Sussex Avenue on Saturday, Feb. 5, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, said.  He was pronounced dead at 1:21 a.m., on Sunday, Feb. 6, Stephens said alongside Newark Public Safety Director Brian A. O’Hara. Wylie was charged with the murder. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
East Orange TikToker Posted Inspiring Video Day Of His Killing East Orange TikToker Posted Inspiring Video Day Of His Killing
East Orange TikToker Posted Inspiring Video Day Of His Killing A $5,000 reward is being offered to anyone who can provide information leading to an arrest and indictment of the person responsible for killing a 55-year-old man from East Orange. Alfred Cheatham was shot and killed on Whittlesey Avenue near his home on Nov. 2, 2021, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:23 p.m. Cheatham was active on TikTok, where he posted a video the same day he died singing along to Marvin Sapp's "Never Would Have Made It." The bio on Cheatham's page sa…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Man 'Tired Of Being Mother-In-Law's Sole Caretaker' Had Beaten Her For Days: Report NJ Man 'Tired Of Being Mother-In-Law's Sole Caretaker' Had Beaten Her For Days: Report
NJ Man 'Tired Of Being Mother-In-Law's Sole Caretaker' Had Beaten Her For Days: Report A New Jersey woman was beaten by her son-in-law over the course of two days before her body was found, NJ.com reports citing police papers. James J. Pica, 58, beat Barbara Ann Bezzone, who was found lying on the floor unresponsive with severe injuries  at a home on Prospect Street in Nutley around 8:20 p.m. Tuesday, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II said. Bezzone, 84, was pronounced dead at 8:45 p.m., and Pica was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Pica was found sitting on the home’s porch with “visible injuries to his hands” and told respo…

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by Valerie Musson
News
NJ Man Gets 25 Years For Sexually Assaulting 8-Year-Old Girl & Filming It NJ Man Gets 25 Years For Sexually Assaulting 8-Year-Old Girl & Filming It
NJ Man Gets 25 Years For Sexually Assaulting 8-Year-Old Girl & Filming It A 35-year-old New Jersey man was sentenced to 25 years without parole in state prison for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl and recording it. Diego Ayala, of Newark, admitted to the acts when pleading guilty, and will be required to serve the his sentence pursuant to the Jessica Lunsford Act, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, said. Ayala, who was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Christopher S. Romanyshyn, will be required to register under Megan's Law. Arrested in 2018, Ayala pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Man Attacks, Kills 45-Year-Old Wife In Their Newark Home, Authorities Say Man Attacks, Kills 45-Year-Old Wife In Their Newark Home, Authorities Say
Man Attacks, Kills 45-Year-Old Wife In Their Newark Home, Authorities Say A Newark man is facing a first-degree murder charge after attacking and killing his 45-year-old wife in their Newark home, authorities said. Maria Lasso was attacked by Jose Lasso Guaman at their Polk Street home on Jan. 14, and pronounced dead at the scene around 7:45 a.m., Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said. Guaman has been charged with first degree murder, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.  He was arrested Jan. 14 and remanded to the Essex County Correctiona…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
East Orange Student, 16, Shot Dead Nearly Half-Mile From School East Orange Student, 16, Shot Dead Nearly Half-Mile From School
East Orange Student, 16, Shot Dead Nearly Half-Mile From School An East Orange High School student was killed in a shooting Tuesday evening, authorities said. Antoine Sanga-Niangara, 16, was shot near 165 Lincoln St. -- approximately half-a-mile from his school -- around 1:50 p.m., Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and East Orange Police Director Domingos Saldida said Wednesday. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrests have been made.  The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1…

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by Cecilia Levine