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Youth Gymnastics Coach From Westchester Admits To Sex Abuse Charges Youth Gymnastics Coach From Westchester Admits To Sex Abuse Charges
Youth Gymnastics Coach From Westchester Admits To Sex Abuse Charges A former popular youth gymnastics coach from Westchester who operated a gym in Rockland has pleaded guilty to sex abuse charges. Joseph Lewin, 67, of Port Chester, admitted to all of the allegations against him during a hearing on Tuesday, June 18, in which he pleaded guilty to course of sexual conduct against a child, said the Rockland County District Attorney's Office.  “As a youth coach, this defendant held a position of power over his students," said acting Rockland County District Attorney Kevin Gilleece. "He abused their trust and took advantage of his vulnerable victim…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Threatens Teen With Large Machete In Hillburn Domestic Incident Man Threatens Teen With Large Machete In Hillburn Domestic Incident
Man Threatens Teen With Large Machete In Hillburn Domestic Incident A local man was arrested by police in Ramapo after allegedly threatening a teenager with a machete during a verbal dispute. Members of the Ramapo Police Department were called to a Hillburn residence at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18, where there was a report of a domestic dispute. The investigation determined that a 52-year-old Hillburn resident - whose name was not released by police - allegedly threatened an 18-year-old who lived in the house with the weapon during the dispute. The investigation also found that the teen had an active bench warrant out for his arrest and he wa…

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by Zak Failla
News
Youth Gymnastics Coach From Westchester Arraigned On Sex Abuse Charges Youth Gymnastics Coach From Westchester Arraigned On Sex Abuse Charges
Youth Gymnastics Coach From Westchester Arraigned On Sex Abuse Charges A popular local coach who owned gyms across the area has been arraigned on three counts of sexual conduct against a child and five counts of felony sexual abuse. Joseph Lewin, 67, of Port Chester, also known as Joseph Lewandoski in the 1990s, was arraigned on the counts Tuesday for abusing children over a seven-year period, said the Rockland County District Attorney's Office. “The defendant preyed upon children entrusted to his care and destroyed their innocence to satisfy his own sexual desires,” said District Attorney Thomas Zugibe. “The courage shown by these victims and their families t…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Police ID Three Men Caught With 13 Firearms In Target Shooting Bust Police ID Three Men Caught With 13 Firearms In Target Shooting Bust
Police ID Three Men Caught With 13 Firearms In Target Shooting Bust Police have released the identities of three men from New Jersey who they said were busted with more than a dozen guns while firing them in broad daylight in Rockland County. Shortly before 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 8, police in Ramapo received a report from the Village of Suffern Police Department that officers had found three men who were allegedly target shooting on Creelman Road in Hillburn. The three men were found to be in possession of alleged illegal handguns and rifles, which violate the NY SAFE Act. In total, seven handguns, six rifles, high-capacity magazines, ammunition and marijua…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Bear Facts: Hillburn Family Gets An Unexpected Visitor Bear Facts: Hillburn Family Gets An Unexpected Visitor
Bear Facts: Hillburn Family Gets An Unexpected Visitor A family in Hillburn got an unexpected visitor on Thursday morning, when a curious bear came meandering up to its driveway, investigating a parked car. Members of the Ramapo Police Department were dispatched to offer an assist to a Lake Avenue homeowner, where there was the latest report of a black bear in the Hudson Valley, following sightings in Westchester and Putnam County. The bear was captured by a local homeowner investigating the resident’s grounds and driveway. Upon arrival at the scene, officers were able to track down the bear and directed him back toward the woods. Following th…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Westchester Gymnastics Coach Charged With Several Sex Offenses Westchester Gymnastics Coach Charged With Several Sex Offenses
Westchester Gymnastics Coach Charged With Several Sex Offenses A popular local gymnastics coach who owned gyms across the area has been arrested on five counts of sexual conduct against a child under 13, according to Ramapo police. Police said Joseph Lewin, 67, of Port Chester, also known as Joseph Lewandoski in the 1990s, abused children from 2001 to 2014. They also suspect that he may have sexually abused teens 16 and up as well. In addition to the sexual abuse charge, Lewin was charged with the sexual abuse of a child, police said.  Over the years, Lewin owned Joe’s Gym in Hillburn, The Gym in Suffern, was co-owner and director of Universal Gymnast…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Stabbed By Co-Worker On Route 59, Police Say Man Stabbed By Co-Worker On Route 59, Police Say
Man Stabbed By Co-Worker On Route 59, Police Say Ramapo police arrested a Paterson man after he stabbed a co-worker during an argument at a warehouse in Hillburn. Officers responded to a call for a fight in progress at the warehouse around 1:30 p.m. Monday at 230 Route 59, according to Ramapo Police. Upon their arrival, a 41-year-old employee at the warehouse told officers he had been stabbed by another employee, police said. Officers arrested Ahmed Masha, 20, of Paterson, and charged him with the felony assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Masha is currently being held in the Ramapo Police department pending arraignment in the …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Off-Roading Teen's SUV Pulled From Ramapo River in Suffern During Storm Off-Roading Teen's SUV Pulled From Ramapo River in Suffern During Storm
Off-Roading Teen's SUV Pulled From Ramapo River in Suffern During Storm An off-roading driver and his passenger got out safely after surging waters pulled their Jeep into the Ramapo River in Suffern during Friday's storm. The Hawthorne, N.J. teen said he and a friend were driving off-road near the Hillburn border when the vehicle entered the river around 11 p.m., Suffern police said. Police found the vehicle in heavy rapids and several feet of water, they said. It was towed out of the river, "which you can imagine was no easy task with last nights weather conditions," Suffern police said. New York Environmental Police issued summonses to the driver.…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Mahwah Homeowner, 71, Charged With Setting Foreclosure Fire Mahwah Homeowner, 71, Charged With Setting Foreclosure Fire
Mahwah Homeowner, 71, Charged With Setting Foreclosure Fire MAHWAH, N.J. -- A 71-year-old Mahwah man was charged with torching his foreclosed house. Everett Nathaniel Johnson was being held in the Bergen County Jail Friday, charged with aggravated arson with the knowledge of "danger of death or bodily injury" in Thursday night's Marion Drive fire, records show. Mahwah police officers dispatched to the house on a welfare check saw Johnson near the garage holding a can of gasoline, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo said. "Multiple points of fire" also were found in the 5:30 p.m. blaze, responders told Daily Voice. The l…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Mahwah Homeowner, 71, Charged With Setting Foreclosure Fire Mahwah Homeowner, 71, Charged With Setting Foreclosure Fire
Mahwah Homeowner, 71, Charged With Setting Foreclosure Fire MAHWAH, N.J. -- (UPDATE) A 71-year-old Mahwah man was charged with torching his foreclosed house. Everett Nathaniel Johnson was being held in the Bergen County Jail Friday, charged with aggravated arson with the knowledge of "danger of death or bodily injury" in Thursday night's Marion Drive fire, records show. Mahwah police officers dispatched to the house on a welfare check saw Johnson near the garage holding a can of gasoline, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo said. "Multiple points of fire" also were found in the 5:30 p.m. blaze, responders told Daily Voic…

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by Jerry DeMarco