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Sunday, apr 28
Tag:
Franklin, NJ
Police & Fire
North Jersey Man, 65, Admits Sharing Horrific Child Sex Videos, Including One Of Girl Under 5
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A video of a girl believed to be 3 to 5 years old astride a shirtless, bearded tattooed man was among the evidence that apparently convinced a North Jersey retiree to plead guilty in federal court to trafficking child pornography, records show. The clip was among 65 videos and 250 images that Gaetano Lapegna, 65, had collected of "prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts with adults and other children," an agent with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Newark cited in a complaint. Lapegna, of Sussex County, shared many of them with what turned out to be HSI agents, the complai…
Weather
Snow Squalls Possible Sunday, Fierce Winds Knock Power To Hundreds Of NJ Residents
Quick and intense bursts of snow are possible on Sunday, Jan. 14 across New Jersey, not great news for hundreds of residents still in the dark or dealing with flooding from the latest storms. Parts of Morris and Hunterdon counties are at greatest risk of snow squalls on Sunday, the National Weather Service says. Wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph were possible. ⚠️❄️🌬️ There is potential for snow squalls from Sunday morning into the early afternoon. Remember, there is no safe... Posted by US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly on Saturday, January 13, 2024 In Morris Coun…
News
Federal Agents Seize NJ Man In Online Child Porn Probe
U.S. Homeland Security agents seized a Sussex County man who they said shared hundreds of child pornography videos and still images with an undercover investigator. Gaetano Lapegna, 64, was arrested after a warranted search of his Franklin home turned up two videos and 100 other images, Homeland Security Investigations' Newark Special-Agent-In-Charge Ricky J. Patel and U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said in a joint announcement. A federal magistrate judge in Newark released Lapegna, formerly of Maine, on $100,000 unsecured bond pending trial on distribution of child pornog…
Obituaries
Sussex County Native Kristen Wargacki Dies, 36
Sussex County native Kristen Wargackie died on Sunday, Feb. 26. She was 36 years old. A Vernon native, Kristen worked at ShopRite in Franklin for many years and at the Mixing Bowl Restaurant, where she amassed countless friends, according to her obituary. She had been living in Warwick, NY at the time of her death, her obituary says. Services were private. Click here for Kristen Wargacki's complete obituary from the Pinkel Funeral Home.
News
Violent NJ Ex-Con Who Once Made Headlines Hangs Himself At Bergen Jail
A disgraced former police officer who'd served time for threatening to kill his then-wife more than 10 years ago was found hanged in his cell at the Bergen County Jail over the weekend, authorities confirmed. Keith C. Reilly, 42, was pronounced dead from suicide at Hackensack University Medical Center at 5:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, Sheriff Anthony Cureton said. Officers assigned to the secure housing unit were conducting routine checks when they found Reilly suspended from the HVAC system by a bedsheet, the sheriff said. He'd strangled himself, Cureton said, adding that an investigation was…
News
Paterson Firefighter Clinging To Life After Motorcycle Crash
A Paterson firefighter was critically injured in a motorcycle crash on the way to work, colleagues said. Initial details were sketchy. Responders said the firefighter was airlifted to St. Joseph's University Medical Center, where a huge contingent of colleagues were gathered Wednesday morning, Sept. 21. The chief of the department and a battalion chief were among them. The crash apparently happened on Route 23 in Franklin, NJ (Sussex County), a little over a half-hour's ride northwest of the city. CHECK BACK FOR MORE DETAILS
Police & Fire
Bridgewater Motorcyclist, 43, Killed In Crash With Pickup Truck
A 43-year-old motorcyclist from Bridgewater was killed in a crash with a pickup truck, authorities confirmed. Luis Ruiz was riding a 2014 Harley Davidson northbound on Canal Road near Elm Street in Franklin when he collided with a 2019 Ford F250 pickup truck heading southbound around 8:25 p.m. on Monday, June 6, township police said. Ruiz was treated at the scene before being taken to a local trauma center, where he was pronounced dead around 9:40 p.m. Princeton resident Octaviano Chavez, 56, was behind the wheel of the truck, which was towing an enclosed trailer, authorities said. Canal …
News
Drug
Raid
: Heroin, Ecstasy, Illegal Gun Seized, 2-Year-Old Found, Nine Adults Busted In Mahwah
Noticeable numbers of people going in and out of a single-family home at all hours in a quiet Mahwah neighborhood were bound to draw attention, particularly since a repeat offender arrested a year ago on gun charges lives there. Police who subsequently raided the 2½ -story home in the township’s Fardale section Tuesday night ended up arresting him and eight other people. Members of the strike force found more than two ounces of heroin – the equivalent of nearly 600 folds of the drug -- along with nearly a pound of pot, some Ecstasy and a 9mm handgun with a high-capacity magazine, Capt. Guid…
Police & Fire
Crews Douse 2-Alarm Blaze In Sussex County (
Photos
)
Fire crews made quick work of a blaze that broke out in the basement of a Sussex County home Thursday evening. The fire was reported at 160 Mountain Rd. in Hardyston around 4:40 p.m., the local volunteer fire department said. Upon arrival, crews were met with heavy smoke and determined that an electrical fire was coming from the basement. Fire departments in Franklin, Hamburg, McAfee, Vernon, and Sussex worked together to fully extinguish the blaze with no injuries reported. “A great team effort between our department and our mutual aid departments made this a huge success,” said the Har…
Police & Fire
Guilty
: Woman Admits Stealing Funds While Treasurer Of Sussex County Youth Program
A Sussex County woman admitted in court Monday to stealing youth group funds while serving as its treasurer, authorities said. Justine Lynn, 44, pled guilty to theft at the Sussex County Courtroom in Newton, Prosecutor Francis A. Koch said. Lynn, of Franklin, stole between $500 and $75,000 from Wallkill Valley Junior Football and Cheerleading Inc. while serving as its treasurer in Hardyston Township between Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, and Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, Koch said. Lynn is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday, April 22. Lynn was represented by Martin Morrison, Esq., while the st…
Police & Fire
Sussex County Man Stole $100s In Electronics From Local Walmart, Police Say
A Sussex County man was caught stealing hundreds of dollars’ worth of electronics from a local Walmart, police said. Daniel Baker, 32, stole “several hundred dollars’ worth of electronics merchandise” from Walmart in Franklin on Tuesday, Feb. 8, Franklin Borough Police said in a Thursday release. Baker, of Franklin, was also found with a controlled dangerous substance at the time of his arrest, authorities said. Baker was charged with shoplifting and possession of CDS. He was released in accordance with the NJ Bail Reform Act and is scheduled to appear in court.
News
NJ Chiropractor Stabs Wife, Shoots Himself In Murder-Suicide: Prosecutor
A prominent New Jersey chiropractor is believed to have stabbed his wife dead before killing himself with a shotgun in South Jersey, authorities said. John Kolonich, 46, was found in his car along Franklinville-Williamstown Road in Franklinville, dead with a gunshot wound to his head around 10:30 a.m. last Thursday, the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. Moments later, police were told that Kolonich’s wife, Melissa, 42, a local realtor, was dead from stab wounds inside their nearby home on Florawood Court in Franklin, authorities said. The physician is believed to …
Obituaries
Beloved Sussex County Dad Of 3 Anthony Conti Dies Suddenly At 31
Beloved Sussex County father of three Anthony Francis Conti died at his home on Oct. 5. He was 31. Born in North Bergen, Conti grew up in Franklin and lived in Vernon at the time of his death, his obituary says. Conti worked in the HVAC industry for 10 years and enjoyed skateboarding, snowboarding and riding quads in his free time. Above all, Conti was known for his unending love for his three daughters, Alexa, Morgan and Carly, as well as his wife, Kristin Salzano Conti. In addition to his wife and daughters, Conti is survived by his parents, Frank and Eileen (Gannon) Conti; sister Allys…
Obituaries
13-Year-Old Girl Dies In Sussex County House Fire
A 13-year-old girl died in a Sussex County house fire Friday night, authorities confirmed. Firefighters responded to the Nestor Street home in Franklin around 10 p.m., where the girl's body was recovered after the fire had been put out, Franklin Borough police said. More than $1,100 had been raised on a GoFundMe for the family as of Saturday morning. The 13-year-old victim was identified by the campaign founder as Heaven Davenport. The family also reportedly lost a dog. "Heaven was such a funny beautiful girl who had a whole life to live and was constantly surrounded by all her siblings a…
Police & Fire
Police: Morris County Man Who Attempted To Steal Idling Car Crashes On Route 80, Flees
A Morris County man attempting to steal a running car from a local parking lot later crashed on Rt. 80 and fled from police, authorities said. Blaise Wiget, 32, entered and drove away in a vehicle that had been left idling in the parking lot of a business in Franklin on Feb. 6, borough police said. Wiget, of Succasunna, later crashed on Route 80 east in Rockaway Township and ran from the scene, authorities said. A follow-up investigation linked Wiget to the crash and found that he had stolen the car, police said. Wiget was charged Feb. 9 with numerous offenses related to vehicle theft, na…
Police & Fire
Man Admits To NJ, NY Bank Robbery Spree
An Essex County man on Friday admitted to a bank robbery spree across New York and New Jersey. Myron Anderson, 40, of Newark, pleaded guilty to five counts of bank robbery and two counts of Hobbs Act robbery before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a statement. The robberies occurred between October 2018 and January 2019. Anderson admitted to the following bank robberies: Myron Anderson admitted to the above bank robberies.U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito In each robbery, Anderson walked into the banks with a hat pulled down closely over his eyes to…
Lifestyle
Shuttered Sussex County Diner Owner Sets Opening Date For Revamped Gourmet Burger Joint
A gourmet burger joint will soon open its doors at the revamped former location of a beloved Sussex County diner. After Double S Diner in Wantage closed Oct. 13, owners Keith Yodice, 48, of Franklin and Norbey Arango, 45, of Wantage have transformed the space and are projecting a Nov. 16 opening date for their new restaurant, Cow Patty’s. The eatery is a modernized burger joint with a uniquely fresh quality rarely found in the area, Yodice says. “All of our beef, meat, hotdogs, bacon, everything beef comes from a mile up the road at Green Valley Farms,” Yodice told Daily Voice. “It’s 100 …
Police & Fire
Photos
: Crews Battle 2-Alarm Sussex County House Fire
Firefighters put out a two-alarm fire that broke out at a Sussex County home Sunday evening. The blaze was reported at 197 Hamburg Tpk. in Stockholm just before 9:30 p.m., the Hardyston Township Volunteer Fire Department said on Facebook. Crew members battled the blaze for more than an hour after ensuring that all occupants had safely exited the home, authorities said. The scene was cleared by 1:10 a.m. following an “extensive overhaul,” the department said. Fire crews in Franklin, Ogdensburg, West Milford, Highland Lakes and Byram also responded at the scene…
Business
Covid-
19: Sussex County Gym Owner Who Sued Murphy Administration Closes Business
The owner of a Sussex County kickboxing studio is closing up shop just weeks after filing a lawsuit against Gov. Phil Murphy. Darlene Pallay, who owns CKO Kickboxing in Franklin, claimed in her suit that the Governor’s signing of Executive Order 104 on March 19 failed to abide by the part of the act that requires businesses to be compensated in the event of forced closure. She closed her gym in March as per Murphy's orders, and reopened for outdoor classes in June. Her studio offering free virtual classes to local elementary school students, studio members and others in the community…
News
Lawsuit
: Sussex County Kickboxing Studio Owner Blames Murphy For Failed Business Amid Pandemic
The owner of a kickboxing studio has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Phil Murphy claiming one of his Executive Orders violated part of the state’s Disaster Control Act -- forcing her to close her business. Darlene Pallay, owner of CKO Kickboxing in Franklin (Sussex County), claims the Governor’s signing of Executive Order 104 on March 19 failed to abide by part of the act that requires businesses to be compensated in the event of forced closure, NJ.com reports. Murphy's spokesman did not return the outlet's request for comment. The suit also states that as per the DCA, Murphy is mandated to s…
Police & Fire
New Brunswick Man, 40, Charged With Sexually Assaulting Juveniles As Kids Played On Swing Set
A 40-year-old New Brunswick man touched a pair of juveniles at a backyard party in Somerset County while kids played on a swing set nearby, authorities said Wednesday. Francisco Leal-Ibarra was at the Franklin house party when he touched the victims, both under 16 years old, separately on Aug. 8, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said in a release with local police. It wasn't clear exactly how old the alleged victims were. Leal-Ibarra was arrested last Thursday without incident following an investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes and Chil…
Police & Fire
'I Know What It's Like To Be Sick,' Says Sussex County Woman Admitting Role In Drug Deal
A Sussex County woman involved in an alleged drug operation as the “middleman” will avoid jail time after accepting a plea, reports say. Stacy Sisco, 37, of Franklin, was arrested in February directly after delivering heroin to people she said were “sick.” One of them turned out to be a witness working alongside the Sussex County Narcotics TASK Force, NJHerald reports. “I know what it’s like to be sick; they called me up crying,” Sisco said during a virtual Sussex County court appearance, the report said. “It was my mistake to help them out.” Sisco, along with Tamarri Valentine, 34, and Jo…
News
NJ's Coronavirus Deaths Surpass 1,500, Murphy Moves Primary
New Jersey's primary election will be moved from Tuesday June 2 until Tuesday July 7, Gov. Phil Murphy announced at Wednesday's briefing, noting an additional 3,088 new positive cases had been reported. The state has recorded 47,437 positive cases of COVID-19, Murphy said. Another 275 state residents have died of coronavirus, bringing New Jersey's total deaths to 1,504, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday. "It is still increasing,'' Murphy said. "We need to tighten rather than loosen (restrictions). Sadly, fatalities are continuing to spike." Murphy also announced new executive order…
Police & Fire
Franklin Woman Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen
A Franklin woman is accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile, authorities said. Crystal Seidner, 38, was arrested after authorities received a tip that the teen -- between ages 13 and 16 -- was assaulted at a local home in November 2018, Franklin police said. Seidner was charged with sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. She was processed and released in accordance with the New Jersey bail reform act, pending an appearance in Sussex County Superior Court.
News
Don't Fall For It: Franklin Police Warn Of 'Publishers Clearing House' Scam
Franklin police are warning the public of a recent phone and mail scam. Several residents have reported receiving a phone call or letter stating that they’ve won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes, but in order to collect the prize, victims are directed to send money to pay for fees and taxes. "These types of scams typically direct the victim to send money by Western Union or MoneyGram, or by getting a reloadable card or gift card," Franklin police said. Scammers have also been known to send a realistic-looking check in the mail, which is ultimately found to be fraudulent.&nbs…
Police & Fire
Authorities: Sussex County Man Leads Virginia Police On High-Speed Chase In Stolen Pickup
A 32-year-old Sussex County man was taken into custody after leading police in Virginia on a high-speed chase in a pickup truck he stole from his mom's boyfriend, local authorities said. Samuel Courtright III entered the Franklin apartment that his mom and her boyfriend share, swiped the keys and drove off in their pickup truck Thursday, Franklin police said. Two days later -- and more than 550 miles away -- a Virginia state trooper saw the Ford F-150 speed by him on Interstate 81, according to a police report obtained by Daily Voice. The trooper activated his lights and siren, but the veh…
Lifestyle
Valentine's Day Is Coming: Check Out These 5 Top-Rated Sussex Candy Shops
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, giving you the perfect opportunity to stop by a local candy shop and pick up something sweet. From old-fashioned favorites to customized creations, these shops have it all. Here are some of the highest-rated candy shops in Sussex County, according to Google: 1. Village Sweets LLC (75 Rt.15 in Newton, ‘The Shoppes at Lafayette’) Quality and craftsmanship are equally prioritized at Village Sweets in Newton, which earned a 4.2/5-star rating on Google. The shop’s owner, Tracey Williams, was born and raised in England and therefore “accustomed to good…
Police & Fire
Franklin PD: Passaic County Man, 32 Busted For Child Porn Was Chatting With Juvenile Online
A Passaic County man who'd been chatting online with a Sussex County juvenile was found Wednesday with child porn, authorities said. Franklin police said they got a tip from another law enforcement agency that Damien S. Stefancik, 32, of New Milford had been communicating with the minor and was believed to have child pornography. Stefancik was arrested at a house in Ringwood and charged with possession of child pornography, lewdness observed by a child, obscenity for persons under 18 and child endangerment. He was released pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Pro…
Police & Fire
Released Accused Sussex County Sex Offender Charged With Sexually Contacting Girl
A Sussex County man who was recently released on sex assault charges did it again, this time to a little girl, authorities said. Police got a tip last Oct. 31 that Andrew M. Stoll, 33, of Franklin, sexually touched a juvenile -- whose age wasn't being released by authorities, Franklin police said. Exactly one week before, Stoll was charged with grabbing the buttocks and inner thigh of a woman hugging him goodbye at a family function. Stoll was charged with criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child. He was lodged in the Sussex County Jail pending a Superior Co…
Neighbors
Community Rallies For Franklin Woman Killed In Crash
A GoFundMe page has been started for Michaela Powell, one of three women killed in a motor-vehicle crash in Woodbridge over the weekend. The 23-year-old was in a vehicle with friends Uchechukw Chukwuma, 24, and Brianna Martinez, 23, when the Nissan Altima they were riding in rear-ended a tractor trailer on Rt.1 around 11:50 p.m. To contribute, click here. "Franklin has been struck with a tragedy. Three young woman, Brianna Martinez, Michaela Powell, Uchechukw Chukwuma, all from Franklin, died [Friday night] in a horrible motor vehicle accident. Our hearts are br…
News
Instagram Video Shows Vibrant Victims Moments Before Deadly Woodbridge Crash
Chilling videos posted to Instagram show the three victims of a late-night Woodbridge crash singing and dancing just moments before they died, the New York Post originally reported. “These are all of my high school friends," said Michaela Powell, who posted the snippets to her Instagram page. "These are the people I grew up with." Powell, 23, and Uchechukw Chukwuma, 24, were passengers in the Nissan Altima driven by Brianna Martinez, 23, which rear-ended a tractor-trailer on Route 1 near Ford Avenue around 11:50 p.m. Friday night, Woodbridge police said. The three graduated from Frank…
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