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Police & Fire
Ex-Teacher, Wrestling Coach Indicted For Criminal Sexual Contact Worked At Dozens Of NJ Schools Ex-Teacher, Wrestling Coach Indicted For Criminal Sexual Contact Worked At Dozens Of NJ Schools
Ex-Teacher, Wrestling Coach Indicted For Criminal Sexual Contact Worked At Dozens Of NJ Schools A former special education teacher and college wrestling coach who worked for dozens of New Jersey schools and youth programs has been indicted for endangering the welfare of a minor, filming/possession of child exploitive material, and criminal sexual contact, authorities said.  John M. Denuto, 44, of Spotswood, was indicted on more than two dozen counts of charges relating to child endangerment, invasion of privacy, possession of child pornography witness tampering and more, according to Middlesex County Yolanda Ciccone and Chief John Zebrowski of the Sayrevil…

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by Jon Craig
News
Prosecutor: Passaic County Home Health Aide Beat Child, 12, With Belt, Assaulted Adult Rescuer Prosecutor: Passaic County Home Health Aide Beat Child, 12, With Belt, Assaulted Adult Rescuer
Prosecutor: Passaic County Home Health Aide Beat Child, 12, With Belt, Assaulted Adult Rescuer A home health aide from Passaic County beat a 12-year-old child with a belt, then assaulted an older woman who tried stop her, authorities said. Two other youngsters – one 14, the other 6 – witnessed the assaults by Lwanda Segura, 34, of West Milford on the child and a 54-year-old township woman, they said. A grand jury in Paterson indicted Segura on five counts of child endangerment and two each of aggravated assault and witness tampering, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes said Wednesday. Segura was released following the May 2020 incidents and ordered released by a judge soon a…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Central Jersey Man Sexting Girl Tried Hiding Relationship, Authorities Say Central Jersey Man Sexting Girl Tried Hiding Relationship, Authorities Say
Central Jersey Man Sexting Girl Tried Hiding Relationship, Authorities Say A Central Jersey man was arrested for sexting an underage female and then trying to hide it from law enforcement agents, authorities said Tuesday. Michael F. Roach, 32, of Flemington, exchanged explicit text messages and photographs with an underage female victim,  Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Michael J. Williams said. He also was found in possession of photos that depict the sexual exploitation or child abuse, Williams said alongside Acting Chief of Detectives Frank R. Crisologo and High Bridge Police Chief Brett Bartman. He subsequently charged with third degree enda…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Authorities: Paterson Man Punched Girlfriend's Baby In Gut, Bribed Daughter, Son To Lie Authorities: Paterson Man Punched Girlfriend's Baby In Gut, Bribed Daughter, Son To Lie
Authorities: Paterson Man Punched Girlfriend's Baby In Gut, Bribed Daughter, Son To Lie UPDATE: A 37-year-old Paterson man punched his girlfriend's 1-year-old baby in the stomach, then bribed his other two children with a toy and money to lie about it after the severely injured infant was hospitalized, authorities said. Jeanandre Desir promised his 5-year-old daughter a Barbie doll and gave his 8-year-old son $10 to cover for him, according to documents on file in Superior Court in Paterson. He also frightened them by saying he'd go to prison if anyone found out what he'd really done, the documents show.  Doctors at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center contacted detectiv…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Authorities: Paterson Man Punched Girlfriend's Baby In Gut, Bribed Daughter, Son To Lie Authorities: Paterson Man Punched Girlfriend's Baby In Gut, Bribed Daughter, Son To Lie
Authorities: Paterson Man Punched Girlfriend's Baby In Gut, Bribed Daughter, Son To Lie A 37-year-old Paterson man punched his girlfriend's 1-year-old baby in the stomach, then bribed his other two children with a toy and money to lie about it after the severely injured infant was hospitalized, authorities said. Jeanandre Desir gave his 5-year-old daughter a Barbie doll and his 8-year-old son $10 to cover for him, according to documents on file in Superior Court in Paterson. He also frightened them by saying he'd go to prison if anyone found out what he'd really done, the documents show.  Doctors at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center contacted detectives with the Passa…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Prosecutor Details How Driver Caused Deadly Parkway Crash Then Tried To Cover It Up Prosecutor Details How Driver Caused Deadly Parkway Crash Then Tried To Cover It Up
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 …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Jersey City Uncle Arrested In Child Abuse Case Involving Cig Lighter, His Own Niece & Nephew Jersey City Uncle Arrested In Child Abuse Case Involving Cig Lighter, His Own Niece & Nephew
Jersey City Uncle Arrested In Child Abuse Case Involving Cig Lighter, His Own Niece & Nephew A Jersey City man was charged with child abuse for burning his niece and nephew, ages 6 and 9, with a cigarette lighter, authorities said Tuesday. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit on Dec. 28 got a tip from the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency alleging two Jersey City children were being abused, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. The investigation found that 21-year-old Jaimear Butler had physically abused a 9-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl by intentionally burning their bodies with a cigarette lighter, Suarez said. …

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Atlantic County Shooter Gets 40 Years In State Prison For Killing 1, Wounding 3 Atlantic County Shooter Gets 40 Years In State Prison For Killing 1, Wounding 3
Atlantic County Shooter Gets 40 Years In State Prison For Killing 1, Wounding 3 A 29-year-old man from South Jersey was sentenced to 40 years in state prison for a shooting at an Atlantic County apartment complex that left one man dead and three hurt, authorities said. Matthew Gonzalez of Mays Landing was convicted by a jury in March on multiple charges, including aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault, weapons offenses, attempted bribery and witness tampering, according to Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner. Gonzalez must serve 21 years and three months in prison before being eligible for parole, Tyner said. The Sept. 24, 2017. fatal shooting stemmed…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Authorities: Ex-Deal Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Witness Tampering Authorities: Ex-Deal Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Witness Tampering
Authorities: Ex-Deal Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Witness Tampering A former Deal police officer admitted to witness tampering in a drug-related case, authorities said. Joseph Ammaturo, 38, of Long Branch was ordered to give up his local police job as well as all future public employment in New Jersey, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said in a statement. The 14-year Deal police veteran has been suspended from without pay since his arrest, Gramiccioni said. Ammaturo entered his plea on Thursday during a virtual court hearing before Superior Court Judge David Bauman. "The community expects better of a law enforcement officer, and …

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by Jon Craig
News
Instructor At NJ Women's Prison Charged With Witness Tampering Day Of Inmate Testimonies Instructor At NJ Women's Prison Charged With Witness Tampering Day Of Inmate Testimonies
Instructor At NJ Women's Prison Charged With Witness Tampering Day Of Inmate Testimonies A trade instructor at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Hunterdon County was charged with witness tampering in an undisclosed 2018 crime. Devon E. Vassell, 54, of East Orange, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the incident, Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Michael J. Williams and Chief of Detectives Frank R. Crisologo said. Vassell's arrest occurred the same day six former inmates shared details of abuse by prison guards during a Trenton hearing. The women said they were sexually assaulted and groped by guards. One guard was dubbed "King of the Cottage," who would…

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by Cecilia Levine