Fair 48°
Police & Fire
Jersey Shore Man Admits To Recording Children's Sex Acts During Video Chats, Prosecutors Say Jersey Shore Man Admits To Recording Children's Sex Acts During Video Chats, Prosecutors Say
Jersey Shore Man Admits To Recording Children's Sex Acts During Video Chats, Prosecutors Say A Brick Township man admitted to recording children performing sexual acts for him in video chats, authorities said. Christopher Budelman, 37, pleaded guilty on Friday, Oct. 4 to two counts of sexual assault, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Prosecutors said they're seeking seven years in state prison for Budelman, along with registering as a sex offender, a ban from contacting the victims, and lifetime parole supervision. The state police's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force found a person was using the …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Former Wildwood Mayor Admits To Healthcare Fraud, NJ Attorney General Says Former Wildwood Mayor Admits To Healthcare Fraud, NJ Attorney General Says
Former Wildwood Mayor Admits To Healthcare Fraud, NJ Attorney General Says A former mayor of Wildwood admitted to his role in a healthcare fraud scheme that stole more than $600,000 in government funds, authorities said. Peter Byron, 68, pleaded guilty to three charges on Friday, Sept. 27, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a news release on Monday, Sept. 30. Byron resigned as mayor in September 2023 after he was indicted in the case. According to court documents and statements, Byron, current Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr., and Deputy Mayor Steve Mikulski enrolled in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) despite being ineligible. The SHBP is only open…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Central Jersey Man Convicted Of Sexually, Physically Abusing Girl For 6+ Years: Prosecutors Central Jersey Man Convicted Of Sexually, Physically Abusing Girl For 6+ Years: Prosecutors
Central Jersey Man Convicted Of Sexually, Physically Abusing Girl For 6+ Years: Prosecutors A Marlboro Township man was convicted of sexually and physically abusing a girl for more than six years, authorities said. A jury found 51-year-old Andrey Penkin guilty of second-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, as well as two counts each of first-degree aggravated sexual assault and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced the conviction in a news release on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Investigators said Penkin started sexually abusing the girl in 2016 when he lived in Sayreville. The abuse continued when Penkin moved …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Toms River Woman Sentenced In Roommate's Shower Rod, Tape Dispenser Killing: Prosecutors Toms River Woman Sentenced In Roommate's Shower Rod, Tape Dispenser Killing: Prosecutors
Toms River Woman Sentenced In Roommate's Shower Rod, Tape Dispenser Killing: Prosecutors A Toms River woman will spend at least eight years in prison after admitting to her role in the death of her roommate, a former Manchester High School janitor, authorities said. Mary Carbone, 60, was sentenced on Friday, Sept. 13 to ten years in state prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. She must serve eight-and-a-half years before she's eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act. Carbone pleaded guilty on Monday, July 8 to aggravated manslaughter. She had been indicted for murder in the death of 55-year-old Frank St…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Central Jersey Widow Avoids Jail After Fraudulently Collecting $268K In Police Pension: AG Central Jersey Widow Avoids Jail After Fraudulently Collecting $268K In Police Pension: AG
Central Jersey Widow Avoids Jail After Fraudulently Collecting $268K In Police Pension: AG A Mercer County woman avoided jail time after admitting to stealing $268,000 from her dead husband's police pension after she remarried, authorities said. Sandra VonScheven, 49, of Hamilton Township, was given a suspended sentence of 364 days in county jail, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a news release on Thursday, Aug. 29. She won't have to go to jail if she completes probation. According to court documents and statements, VonScheven started receiving state benefits in November 2001 after her husband died. He had retired as a municipal police officer in New Jersey. Widows …

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Two More Arrested In Plot To Murder Man On Jersey Shore, Prosecutors Say Two More Arrested In Plot To Murder Man On Jersey Shore, Prosecutors Say
Two More Arrested In Plot To Murder Man On Jersey Shore, Prosecutors Say Two more men were charged in a plot to shoot and kill another man in Jackson Township, authorities said. Noah Phelps of Monroe Township and Glenn Franzson of Jackson Township were arrested, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Tuesday, Aug. 20. The two were facing charges in the shooting on Thursday, June 27. Jackson police responded to the shooting report on Larsen Road at around 12:20 a.m. and officers found a 27-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his face. He was treated at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and released from the N…

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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
Police & Fire
Why Sergeant Won't Be Charged In Crash That Killed 44-Year-Old Pedestrian: AG (VIDEO) Why Sergeant Won't Be Charged In Crash That Killed 44-Year-Old Pedestrian: AG (VIDEO)
Why Sergeant Won't Be Charged In Crash That Killed 44-Year-Old Pedestrian: AG (Video) Charges will not be filed against a police officer who last November struck and killed a 44-year-old man while on-duty in a patrol car, authorities said. Sgt. Richard Sbarra was on White Horse Pike (Route 30) in the Atco section of Waterford when he hit Christofe “Christopher” Wita, 44, of Berlin on Nov. 23, 2023, NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin previously said. Bodycam footage and radio transmissions from the incident were released last month. On Monday, Aug. 12, Platkin said Sbarra would not be charged following an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Account…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
South Jersey Corrections Officer Who Sexually Assaulted Girl Under 13 Sentenced: Prosecutors South Jersey Corrections Officer Who Sexually Assaulted Girl Under 13 Sentenced: Prosecutors
South Jersey Corrections Officer Who Sexually Assaulted Girl Under 13 Sentenced: Prosecutors A Cape May County corrections officer will spend more than a quarter-century in prison for sexually assaulting a girl younger than 13 years old, authorities said. Jonathan Perez, 35, of Woodbine, was sentenced on Thursday, Aug. 8 to 30 years in state prison, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said in a news release. A jury convicted him on four charges on Friday, Apr. 12. The girl reported the abuse "over an extended period of time" to state police in Woodbine on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Perez was arrested the next morning and a grand jury indicted him on…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Hammer-Wielding Man Sentenced In Deadly Attack At South Jersey Truck Stop: Prosecutor Hammer-Wielding Man Sentenced In Deadly Attack At South Jersey Truck Stop: Prosecutor
Hammer-Wielding Man Sentenced In Deadly Attack At South Jersey Truck Stop: Prosecutor A 43-year-old man from Burlington County has been sentenced to 50 years in New Jersey State Prison for repeatedly striking a Delaware man in the head with a hammer at a Salem County truck stop, authorities said. Marchello D. Williams, of Browns Mills, was convicted in May of first-degree murder and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon for causing the death of Tysheem Porter, 47, of Newark, Delaware, according to Salem County Prosecutor  Kristin J. Telsey Just before 11 p.m. on May 6, 2021, Porter was attacked while sitting in a chair in the lounge of the Flying J Truck Stop i…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Man Arrested For Critically Injuring Lithuanian Student In Wildwood Shooting: Prosecutors Man Arrested For Critically Injuring Lithuanian Student In Wildwood Shooting: Prosecutors
Man Arrested For Critically Injuring Lithuanian Student In Wildwood Shooting: Prosecutors A Wildwood man was accused of shooting and critically injuring a student from Lithuania who was an innocent bystander outside a bar, authorities said. William Hoyle, 40, was arrested, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said in a news release on Friday, July 12. He was charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and five gun-related charges. Wildwood police responded to the shooting outside Cattle 'n Clover on Pacific Avenue at around 10:26 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9. When officers arrived, they found a woman who had been shot in the h…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
South Jersey Man Accused Of Chasing Child In Car Avoids Prison For Gun Conviction: Prosecutors South Jersey Man Accused Of Chasing Child In Car Avoids Prison For Gun Conviction: Prosecutors
South Jersey Man Accused Of Chasing Child In Car Avoids Prison For Gun Conviction: Prosecutors A Pleasantville man avoided prison time after he was accused of being in a car that was chasing after a child, authorities said. Jordani Martinez-Casiano, 25, was sentenced on Thursday, July 11, to five years of probation, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. He previously pleaded guilty to second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun. Pleasantville police responded to Pizza Di Roma on North Main Street on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022. A caller said a heavily damaged Honda Accord had chased after a child and was parked at King’s Super Market. An officer foun…

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by Chris Spiker