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Forgotten On The Bus: 4-Year-Old Girl Never Made It To School, NJ Mom Demands Answers Forgotten On The Bus: 4-Year-Old Girl Never Made It To School, NJ Mom Demands Answers
Forgotten On The Bus: 4-Year-Old Girl Never Made It To School, NJ Mom Demands Answers A 4-year-old New Jersey girl was left on a school bus for nearly six hours in what her mother is calling a traumatic and preventable incident. Darielle Lugo said her daughter, Makani, was supposed to arrive at the Bargaintown Preschool in Egg Harbor Township around 9:25 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, after being put on the bus by her father.  But Makani never made it to class. The ordeal came to light when Darielle’s husband arrived at the school around 2:05 p.m. for a class party. After signing in with security, he discovered Makani had been marked absent. “I thought it was a joke…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Former Jersey Shore Gymnastics Coach Sexually Assaulted Girl, Police Say Former Jersey Shore Gymnastics Coach Sexually Assaulted Girl, Police Say
Former Jersey Shore Gymnastics Coach Sexually Assaulted Girl, Police Say A former Galloway Township gymnastics coach was accused of sexually assaulting a girl under 16 years old, authorities said. The Galloway Township Police Department announced the arrest of 51-year-old Matthew Shriver in a news release on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The Brigantine man was a co-owner of Everest Gymnastics and Tumbling Center in Galloway Township. The investigation began after officers received a report regarding the abuse accusations. Police said they obtained cell phone evidence that corroborated the victim’s statements.  This evidence led to search warrants for Shriver’s phone, perso…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
NJ Performing Arts HS Teacher Confesses To Molesting Female Student, Prosecutors Say NJ Performing Arts HS Teacher Confesses To Molesting Female Student, Prosecutors Say
NJ Performing Arts HS Teacher Confesses To Molesting Female Student, Prosecutors Say A former teacher at an Ocean County performing arts academy admitted to molesting a female student, authorities said. Douglas Bollinger of Neptune City, pleaded guilty on Monday, Nov. 18, to endangering the welfare of a child, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Investigators said Bollinger, 57, engaged in "inappropriate sexual contact" with a student. The incidents happened in Point Pleasant Beach and Asbury Park between February and August 2019. Bollinger was a teacher at the Grunin Performing Arts Academy, part of Ocean County Vocational Tech…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Former Columbia University VP Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen At Bergen County Home Former Columbia University VP Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen At Bergen County Home
Former Columbia University VP Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Pre-Teen At Bergen County Home A former Columbia University vice president has been convicted of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 years old at his Bergen County home, authorities announced. Marcelo Velez was found to have sexually assaulted the child at his home in Woodcliff Lake after the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office was notified in January 2021, Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Velez was convicted by a jury of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of sexual contact, and endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in sexual conduct following a three-week trial that began earlier this month. Col…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
'Mrs. Maisel' Actor Sent Sexual Messages To 14-Year-Old In North Jersey: Sources 'Mrs. Maisel' Actor Sent Sexual Messages To 14-Year-Old In North Jersey: Sources
'Mrs. Maisel' Actor Sent Sexual Messages To 14-Year-Old In North Jersey: Sources A 31-year-old actor and Hawthorne resident was arrested and charged on Thursday, Oct. 10, with sending sexual messages to a 14-year-old girl, Daily Voice has learned. Matthew Kresch sent the text messages to the girl as part of an attempt to lure her into having sex, Hawthorne police said. He was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of luring. Kresch, whose birthday was Sunday, Oct. 13, co-directed the horror film "Alone Together" with his brother, William, and played a bartender on two episodes of "The Incredible Mrs. Maisel," IMDB shows. …

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
NJ Mom Believed Killed By Husband Survived By 4 Daughters, Campaign Says NJ Mom Believed Killed By Husband Survived By 4 Daughters, Campaign Says
NJ Mom Believed Killed By Husband Survived By 4 Daughters, Campaign Says Support is on the rise for four girls mourning the loss of their 40-year-old mother, who authorities said was stabbed dead by her husband this weekend in New Jersey. A GoFundMe campaign launched for Rosana Rodriguez's daughters had raised more than $10,000 as of Sunday, Sept. 22, more than 24 hours after she was found lying on the kitchen floor of a Perth Amboy home with stab wounds next to her husband, Wellington Leonard, as previously reported by Daily Voice. Officers were called to the Bertrand Avenue home around 3 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ci…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Pastor From Somerset Charged With Sexually Assaulting Juvenile Pastor From Somerset Charged With Sexually Assaulting Juvenile
Pastor From Somerset Charged With Sexually Assaulting Juvenile A 61-year-old pastor has been charged with sexually assaulting a juvenile in Middlesex County, authorities said. Roby D. Cruz-Hernandez, a pastor at Iglesia Pentecostal El Mesias in New Brunswick, was arrested without incident at his home in Somerset, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and New Brunswick Police Chief Vincent Sabo said. Cruz-Hernandez was charged with second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Castro of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at 732-7…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
NJ Performing Arts High School Teacher Molested Female Student, Prosecutors Say NJ Performing Arts High School Teacher Molested Female Student, Prosecutors Say
NJ Performing Arts High School Teacher Molested Female Student, Prosecutors Say A former teacher at an Ocean County performing arts high school was accused of molesting a female student, authorities said. Douglas Bollinger, 56, of Neptune City, was charged on Monday, Aug. 12 with two counts each of endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. Bollinger was a teacher at the Grunin Performing Arts Academy at Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS). The academy had 240 students as of September 2023 and offers high schoolers opportunities to take dual-credit co…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
NJ Youth Soccer Coach Accused Of More Sexual Crimes Against Ninth Player, Prosecutors Say NJ Youth Soccer Coach Accused Of More Sexual Crimes Against Ninth Player, Prosecutors Say
NJ Youth Soccer Coach Accused Of More Sexual Crimes Against Ninth Player, Prosecutors Say A Monmouth County youth soccer coach accused of molesting two players and sending sexual pictures to others was given more charges, authorities said. A grand jury indicted 32-year-old Ryan Gunsauls of Union Beach on 30 counts, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said in a news release on Tuesday, Aug. 14. He was previously arrested in the case in Hazlet on Friday, May 11.  Investigators said one boy told police earlier in May that Gunsauls had been sending him "sexually explicit materials" and asking for them on social media. Eight more victims bet…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Teacher Seen Assaulting Student In Disturbing Video Charged In Essex County: Cops Teacher Seen Assaulting Student In Disturbing Video Charged In Essex County: Cops
Teacher Seen Assaulting Student In Disturbing Video Charged In Essex County: Cops A West Orange teacher has been arrested for assaulting an 11-year-old student, authorities said. Jaron Spicer, 32, of Bayonne, has been charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault — a disorderly persons offense — following an incident on April 18, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II and West Orange Police Chief James P. Abbott said. Disturbing footage shared by Pix11 shows Spicer, a teacher at Mt. Carmel Guild Academy on Valley Way, throwing the boy to the ground and holding him down with his own body weight. The outlet s…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Bergen County Pastor Repeatedly Performed Sex Acts On Child: Criminal Complaint Bergen County Pastor Repeatedly Performed Sex Acts On Child: Criminal Complaint
Bergen County Pastor Repeatedly Performed Sex Acts On Child: Criminal Complaint A 74-year-old Paramus church pastor has been arrested and charged with 21 counts of sexual offenses for disturbing sexual assaults on a girl between ages 13 and 18 for years, authorities announced Friday, July 12. Stephen E. Sweet, the pastor at Grace's Lutheran Church in River Edge, became the center of an investigation on Thursday, July 11, on a tip that he'd sexually assaulted a juvenile in the past, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. ** WARNING: The following news article contains graphic and disturbing information. Reader discretion is advised ** Sweet sexually assaulted…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Special Education Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student, Monmouth Prosecutor Says Special Education Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student, Monmouth Prosecutor Says
Special Education Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Student, Monmouth Prosecutor Says A special education teacher in Monmouth County was accused of sexually assaulting a student, authorities said. Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 43, of Jackson Township, was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced her arrest in a news release on Saturday, June 29.  Prosecutors said Havemann-Niedrach is a teacher at Freehold Intermediate School and according to her LinkedIn profile, she teaches special education in the borough's district. He…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Man Sent Child Porn To Undercover Central Jersey Detective, Prosecutors Say Man Sent Child Porn To Undercover Central Jersey Detective, Prosecutors Say
Man Sent Child Porn To Undercover Central Jersey Detective, Prosecutors Say A Passaic man was accused of sending child pornography to an undercover Monmouth County investigator through a social media app, authorities said. Joseph Velazquez, 25, was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child (distribution of child sexual abuse materials) and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child (possession of child sexual abuse materials). Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced the charges in a news release on Friday, June 21. An undercover detective from the county prosecutor's office was monitoring a group chat on the messenger app…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Grand Jury Declines To Charge NJ Principal Arrested Last Spring Grand Jury Declines To Charge NJ Principal Arrested Last Spring
Grand Jury Declines To Charge NJ Principal Arrested Last Spring An Essex County Grand Jury declined to indict Columbia High School principal Frank Sanchez on charges of endangering the welfare of a child on Thursday, June 13, authorities announced. Sanchez still faces charges of simple assault stemming from an incident involving a student in January at the school in the South Orangewood-Maplewood School District, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. The principal was suspended from his job following the alleged incident, as reported by Daily Voice when charges were filed in March. Dr. Kevin F. Gilbert, Acting Superintendent of the South Orange &a…

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by Sam Barron