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31°
Friday, dec 27
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Union County Superior Court
Police & Fire
NJ Amazon Driver's Killer Gets 25 Years Behind Bars: Prosecutor
A 28-year-old Plainfield man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the fatal shooting of an Amazon driver in 2021. Quahif Lane's sentence for aggravated manslaughter was handed down on Friday, May 26, by Union County Superior Court Judge Stacy Boretz, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel said. In September 2021, Plainfield Police responded to the 200 block of Garfield Ave and found Jamar Harris, a 36-year-old Newark resident, suffering from a gunshot wound, Daniel said. Harris was pronounced dead at the scene, Daniel said.
Police & Fire
North Jersey Chiropractor Sexually Assaults Patient: Prosecutor
A Fanwood chiropractor is facing prison time for sexually assaulting a patient, authorities said. Grant Babbitt, 70, is charged with fourth degree criminal sexual contact on a 30-year-old female patient that occurred in his office on Martine Avenue, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel announced Thursday, April 27, Daniel said. Babbitt was charged on Tuesday, April 25 and was released pending his next court appearance in Union County Superior Court on May 25, Daniel said. Anyone with further information about Babbitt is being urged to contact Fanwood Police Detective Sergeant Philli…
Police & Fire
Newark Airport Sexual Assault: Man Attacked Woman In Garage Near Brand New Terminal, Police Say
A 40-year-old West New York man has been charged after authorities say he sexually assaulted a woman walking to her car in a parking garage near Newark Airport's brand new terminal. Thomassal Watkins attacked the woman in the Conrac Parking Garage at Newark Airport's brand new Terminal A around 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Lawlor, who is prosecuting the case. Watkins was quickly apprehend on the property and subsequently charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, third-degree aggravated as…
News
NJ Teacher Used Olympian As Role Model For Students Before She Ruined Her Life, Lawsuit Says
The person who Tamar Herman says is responsible for ruining her life was someone she knew, she says. Someone who she exercised with, had exchanged phone numbers with and become Facebook friends with. So, why Ibtihaj Muhammad failed to reach out to Herman before publishing the social media post that upended her 30-year teaching career and forced her out of the community she's been apart of for decades, is beyond her, according to Herman's attorney, Erik Dykema, with The Lawfare Project. According to a lawsuit filed against Muhammad, an Olympic fencer and non-profit Muslim group Ca…
Police & Fire
Jersey City Killer Learns His Fate For Elizabeth Murder
A 28-year-old Jersey City man has received his punishment for the 2019 killing of an Elizabeth man. Anthony Reciofigueroa was sentenced on Thursday, Oct. 6 to 55 years in New Jersey state prison for the shooting death of Carlos Rodriguez, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel said. Reciofigueroa in June was found guilty of murder and unlawful weapon possession after a three-week trial before Union County Superior Court Judge John Deitch. Reciofigueroa's sentence requires him to serve at least 85% of the 55-year term on the murder charge before the possibility of pa…
Police & Fire
Ex-NJ McDonald's Worker Gets More Prison Time For 'Practical Joke' Armed Robbery
A 54-year-old man was sentenced to time in New Jersey State Prison for using a fake gun to rob his former employer, McDonald's during what he said was a "practical joke" while out on bail for another robbery, authorities announced. During a Friday hearing, Union County Superior Court Judge Robert A. Kirsch ruled that Plainfield's Thomas H. Outland must serve a minimum of 85% of the sentence before the possibility of parole, under the provisions of New Jersey’s No Early Release Act. Outland and an unidentified co-conspirator both wearing ski masks and holding guns entered the Route 22 …
Police & Fire
Man Found Guilty In Throat Slashing Outside Union County Bar
A 45-year-old man has been found guilty of slashing a victim's throat outside of a Union County bar last year, authorities announced. A Union County jury deliberated for nearly three hours before returning a guilty verdict against, Michael G. Johnston, 45, of Winfield Park, last week, nearly a year after the Rahway incident, Union County First Assistant Prosecutor James O. Tansey announced. Johnston and the 25-year-old victim were at Butch Kowal’s Tavern in Rahway, when they began arguing around 1:45 a.m. on Aug. 30, 2021, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Melissa Cap…
Police & Fire
North Jersey Man Found Guilty In Teen's Murder
A 27-year-old North Jersey man is facing life in state prison for the shooting death of a teenager, authorities said. Anthony Reciofigueroa, of Jersey City, was found guilty Thursday, June 9 of first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes after a three-week trial, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel said in a joint release. Reciofigueroa was accused of shooting 19-year-old Carlos Rodriguez, who was discovered by officers on the sidewalk of East Jersey Street in Elizabeth just after 7 p…
News
Ex-BF Gets Plea-Bargained 30 Years For Killing NJ Mom, Abducting Son
UPDATE: A New Jersey man who admitted killing his former girlfriend, kidnapping their young son and fleeing to Tennessee last summer was sentenced to a plea-bargained 30 years in state prison, authorities said. Tyler Rios, 28, must serve 25½ years before he’ll be eligible for parole under the deal brokered with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office for killing 24-year-old Yasemin Uyar, taking his son with him as he drove her body to Tennessee in the trunk of her car and dumping the corpse in a field there on July 8, 2021. That means he’d still be in his early 50s when he’s eventually releas…
Police & Fire
Former Plainfield Police Sergeant Found Guilty Of Stealing $1,100 From City Via Her Job
A Union County jury has returned guilty verdicts on several charges filed against a former Plainfield police sergeant accused of exploiting her position to steal nearly $1,100 from the city by falsifying work records, authorities said. Leslie Knight, 51, was found guilty Tuesday on several counts of both third and fourth-degree theft by deception and one charge of falsifying records, a fourth-degree crime, following a two-week trial before Union County Superior Court Judge Robert Kirsch and five hours of jury deliberation. The jury found Knight, who was hired in 2001, not guilty on on…
News
NJ Homeowner Refusing To Remove Profanity-Laced Anti-Biden Signs Backed By ACLU
A New Jersey homeowner who is refusing to remove profanity-laced anti-Biden signs is being backed by the state's American Civil Liberties Union chapter, local officials confirmed. Andrea Dick was warned by Roselle Park code enforcement officers in June that if she didn't remove her signs in a timely manner, she'd face up to $500 in fines. Now, the Willow Avenue resident and her mom, Patricia Dilascio, are trying to appeal the fines in Union County Superior Court, with help from ACLU attorney Alexander Shalom, NJ Advance Media reports. Roselle Park Mayor Joe Signorello emphasized …
News
Abducted NJ Toddler Found In Tennessee, Dad In Custody, Mom Remains Missing
A 2-year-old boy abducted by his dad was found unharmed in Tennessee while his mom remained missing as of Saturday morning, authorities in Union County said. Tyler Rios, 27, of Highland Park was arrested without incident, Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Rahway Police Department Director Jonathan Parham said. Yasmine Uyar of Rahway, had yet to be found, they said. Rios was convicted of aggravated assault on a domestic violence victim and was placed on conditional probation out of Middlesex County just last year, court records show. A multi-agency investigation was la…
Schools
Retired Union County Middle School Theater Director Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student
A retired Union County middle school teacher and theater director was charged with sexually assaulting a student while on school grounds several years ago. Ronald Wells, 69, asked the alleged victim to join him after school to model costumes for a school play and, between costume changes, began touching the student in a sexual manner, according to Special Victims Unit Supervisor and Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Lawlor, who is prosecuting the case. The incident occurred in a third-floor room of the Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School in 2016, Lawlor said. Wells, a Summit resident,…
Police & Fire
Prosecutor: NJ Murder Suspect Who Charred Victim Captured At
Us-m
exico Border
A Union County man wanted for murder after burning a victim's body beyond recognition last year was captured in Texas at the border of U.S. and Mexico, authorities announced Tuesday. Plainfield's Oscar E. Rodriguez, 24, is facing charges of first-degree murder and second-degree desecration of human remains in connection with the death of David Chacon, 42, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said. Police responding to reports of human remains found Chacon's charred body at an outdoor area near the 800 block of West Front Street, said Union County Assistant Prosecutor Peter Benza, …
Police & Fire
NJ Software Engineer Busted With 10,000 Photos Of Child Sex Abuse, Authorities Say
A New Jersey man was arrested after more than 10,000 photos depicting child sex abuse were discovered on his computer, authorities said Monday. Joseph Poutre, 55, of Middletown, was charged with a single count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo said. Ruotolo's office began investigating following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Spearheaded by Det. Craig Famoso, the investigation led to an IP address being used by Poutre, who at the time lived on the 2000 block of Princeton Avenue in Fa…
Police & Fire
Prosecutor Details How Driver Caused Deadly Parkway Crash Then Tried To Cover It Up
A 43-year-old Newark man has been charged with causing a deadly crash earlier this week on the Garden State Parkway then trying to cover up his role in it, authorities said. Ronaldo Godwin was heading southbound behind the wheel of a Range Rover when he struck a Lexus SUV driven by Christopher Meikle, of East Orange, at a high rate of speed around 2:45 a.m. Feb. 15, members of the Union County Prosecutors Office said. Responding New Jersey State troopers found 46-year-old Meikle's SUV engulfed in flames near the highway's center median shortly before 2:45 a.m. near mile marker 136 in …
Police & Fire
NJ Man, 19, Charged With Animal Cruelty After Starving Pets To Death, Prosecutor Says
A 19-year-old Union County man is facing criminal charges of animal cruelty after severely neglecting three pets, two of who died, authorities said. Plainfield police were called to Rock Avenue on reports of a suspicious item dumped on the side of the road, where they found the body of a severely emaciated pit bull inside of a plastic bag on Nov. 3, Union County Assistant Prosecutor Patricia Cronin said. A subsequent investigation found that Aiden R. Turso, 19, had three pets that had suffered severe neglect, Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo said. Those pets includ…
Police & Fire
Elizabeth Man Charged With Murder In Brutal Apartment Beating Death Of Woman, 22
A 21-year-old man was jailed this week on accusations he beat a 22-year-old woman to death in his Downtown Elizabeth apartment building last month, authorities said. Andrew Burr, 21, is charged with first-degree murder and two related weapons offenses in connection in the early January death of Shaquin Ingram, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Elizabeth Police Department Chief Giacomo Sacca and Director Earl Graves announced Friday. Police responding to an apartment on the 10 block of Jacques Street to perform a welfare check around 1 a.m., on Jan 5. found Ingram wi…
News
Authorities: Elderly NJ Woman Lived In Squalor As Aide, Daughters Spent $280K Of Her Money
A 91-year-old Union County woman living in squalor had more than $280,000 stolen from her by her home health aide and her two daughters, authorities said Monday. Denise Letren, 64, of Union Township is charged with second-degree theft, second-degree theft by deception, and third-degree neglect of an elderly person for whom she had a responsibility to care, while 30-year-old Carmen Letren of Newark and 32-year-old Danielle Letren of Lake Hopatcong are each charged with third-degree theft, acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo said Monday. The 91-year-old victim realized she …
Police & Fire
Trenton Sex Offender Accused Of Strangling, Sexually Assaulting Elizabeth Woman In Her Home
A Trenton man formerly registered as sex offender was accused of sexually assaulting and strangling an Elizabeth woman in her home, authorities said Monday. Sylvester Meyers, 37, was arrested last Thursday in Middlesex County in connection with the Aug. 31 incident, Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Elizabeth Police Department Chief Giacomo Sacca and Director Earl Graves jointly announced. He was charged with second-degree sexual assault and third-degree aggravated assault by strangulation. Meyers was registered online as a sex offender in 2004, records show. Union Cou…
Police & Fire
NJ Man Arrested After Making Music Video Aiming Firearm At Officer
A man who made a music video of himself pointing a firearm at a Hillside police officer got the attention of authorities who ultimately took him into custody, they said. Kevin M. Vincent, 22, was recording a music video from a home on Leo Street when he pointed what looked like a black gun at an officer in a marked vehicle on Tuesday, April 21, Hillside police said in a news release. Vincent then uploaded the video to Instagram, where someone saw it and reported it the Hillside Police Department, authorities said. An investigation identified Vincent as the suspect, prompting authorities to…
Police & Fire
Newark Man, 69, Used Bogus Handgun In Springfield Bank Robbery, Authorities Say
A 69-year-old Newark man was charged in the robbery of a Springfield bank last month, authorities said Saturday. David R. Vaughan, 69, was wearing a white face mask when he walked into the Morris Avenue Bank of America and pulled a black handgun from his backpack, Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Springfield Police Chief John Cook said. Vaughan demanded money from the teller then fled the scene in a Toyota Corolla, Ruotolo and Cook said. Bank workers activated and alarm, which brought Springfield police to the scene. Authorities later identified Vaughan as a suspect a…
Police & Fire
Union County Acupuncturist Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Patient
A former acupuncturist who had a Union County practice was convicted of sexually assaulting a patient in 2017, authorities said. Edward Raskin, 57 of Chatham Township, was found guilty of sexual assault and sexual contact by Union County Superior Court Judge Lara DiFabrizio following a two-week bench trial that concluded earlier this week, Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay V. Ruotolo and Springfield Police Chief John Cook said in a joint statement. The investigation revealed that Raskin sexually assaulted an adult victim during a scheduled appointment at Spirit Acupuncture o…
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Bringing Gun To Westfield School Meant No Harm: Brother
The Delaware man who police said was armed with a loaded gun and who had several more rounds of ammo in the trunk of his vehicle when he was arrested at a grade school in Westfield last week made his first court appearance Thursday. Thomas Wilkie, 46, was arrested after police in Westfield received a call from law enforcement in New Castle, Del., notifying them that Wilkie was armed and headed to Tamaques Elementary, police said. School was out of session but a number of students were in the building for an after-school program when Wilkie was taken into custody without incident aroun…
Police & Fire
Robber Who Killed Vietnam Vet In Elizabeth Sentenced To 30 Years
An Elizabeth man who shot and killed his neighbor during the course of a robbery on Halloween in 2016 must serve at least 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole, a judge in Union County Superior Court ruled Friday. Jimmy Kearney, 20, assaulted 61-year-old Robert Rouse around 6 a.m. as Rouse, who served in the Marines in Vietnam, was headed to work from his home on Walnut Street. As an injured Rouse lay on the street, Kearney got a .45-caliber handgun from his house and fatally shot Rouse in the neck before going through his pockets. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office sai…
Police & Fire
Plainfield Man, 71, Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Young Child
A Plainfield man will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars after a jury in Union County Superior Court found him guilty of repeatedly assaulting a pre-teen neighbor. Acting Prosecutor Jennifer Davenport announced Friday that the jury convicted 71-year-old Angel Flores of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child following less than two hours of jury deliberations. Plainfield police and Sgt. Brian O'Malley of the prosecutor's Special Victims Unit conducted an investigation which revealed that Flores -- known to his neighbors in the multifamily home…