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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
Former Ocean City Lifeguard Sentenced After Sexual Misconduct Investigation Former Ocean City Lifeguard Sentenced After Sexual Misconduct Investigation
Former Ocean City Lifeguard Sentenced After Sexual Misconduct Investigation A former Ocean City lifeguard and Atlantic County teacher avoided jail time after he was accused of sexual misconduct, authorities said. Jonathan Howell, 42, of Marmora, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 18 to four years probation, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said in a news release. Howell was a member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol and a teacher in the Pleasantville School District. Investigators said social media posts in April 2021 made several accusations against members of Ocean City Beach Patrol, including Howell. "Since that time the prosecuto…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Habit Burger Grill Opens New NJ Joint: 'Fresh-From-The-Flame-Food' Habit Burger Grill Opens New NJ Joint: 'Fresh-From-The-Flame-Food'
Habit Burger Grill Opens New NJ Joint: 'Fresh-From-The-Flame-Food' With a promise of mouth-watering flame-cooked food, The Habit Burger Grill opened its 17th restaurant in New Jersey on Tuesday, June 18. The California-based restaurant chain is renowned for its award-winning Charburgers grilled over an open flame, signature sandwiches, fresh salads, and more. The new restaurant and drive-thru are located at 1227 Route 33 in Hamilton. “It’s a dream come true to be able to open The Habit Burger Grill here in Hamilton and feed this city the best Charburgers, salads, shakes, kids’ meals, and sandwiches," said franchise owner John Tomasulo. The 3,100 sq. foot…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
NY Judge Sees No Remorse, Sentences Bergen 'Bling Bishop' To 9 Years For Swindling Followers NY Judge Sees No Remorse, Sentences Bergen 'Bling Bishop' To 9 Years For Swindling Followers
NY Judge Sees No Remorse, Sentences Bergen 'Bling Bishop' To 9 Years For Swindling Followers 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A convicted con man from Bergen County known as the "Bling Bishop" used the opportunity he was given to speak before being sent to federal prison for nine years to annoy the judge on Monday. Lamor Whitehead of Paramus must serve a mandatory 7½ years following his conviction by a jury in lower Manhattan in March for swindling the life savings from a parishioners mother, among other crimes. One by one, some of those who were financially destroyed spoke to Manhattan Federal Court Judge Lorna Schofield during the June 17 sentencing hearing. Then it was Whitehead's turn. Bishop …

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Jersey Shore City Cracking Down On 'Pop-Up' Parties, Adding Police Along Beaches Jersey Shore City Cracking Down On 'Pop-Up' Parties, Adding Police Along Beaches
Jersey Shore City Cracking Down On 'Pop-Up' Parties, Adding Police Along Beaches A city in Monmouth County said it's renewing an effort to crack down on unauthorized “pop-up” parties. The mayor and public safety director of Long Branch issued a joint statement on Tuesday, June 4 about a "significant police presence" over the upcoming weekend. The city said a "pop-up" event was advertised on social media that was scheduled for Saturday, June 8. Long Branch police and the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office have identified three promoters who organized the event. "The city will not tolerate these unsanctioned pop-up parties," said Mayor John Pallone. "Our polic…

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by Chris Spiker
News
'Dinner On Me': Jersey Shore Mayor Apologizes To Jason, Kylie Kelce After Woman Berates Couple 'Dinner On Me': Jersey Shore Mayor Apologizes To Jason, Kylie Kelce After Woman Berates Couple
'Dinner On Me': Jersey Shore Mayor Apologizes To Jason, Kylie Kelce After Woman Berates Couple A Jersey Shore city's mayor apologized to former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and his wife Kylie after a video showed a woman yelling at the couple while going to dinner over Memorial Day weekend. The Philadelphia-based "Word to the Wise Podcast" shared a video of the argument on Instagram on Tuesday, May 28. While the eight-second video's caption said the dispute was in Sea Isle City, where the Kelces own a beach home, it reportedly happened outside Steve & Cookie's By the Bay restaurant in Margate. The podcast's post said the unidentified woman approached the Kelces to take …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
NJ Man Convicted Of Raping 12-Year-Old Girl He Met Online, Prosecutors Say NJ Man Convicted Of Raping 12-Year-Old Girl He Met Online, Prosecutors Say
NJ Man Convicted Of Raping 12-Year-Old Girl He Met Online, Prosecutors Say A 22-year-old Piscataway man was convicted on Tuesday, May 14 of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he'd met online in 2021, authorities said. In July 2021, a 12-year-old girl said she was sexually assaulted in Bound Brook by Lenic Galvan, a man she met on social media, Somerset County Prosecutor John  McDonald said. Galvan arranged for transportation for the girl before he sexually assaulted her, authorities said. Following an investigation and DNA test, Galvan was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and was convicted of sexual assault by contact and endangering th…

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by Sam Barron