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Seaside Heights Voters Reject Merger With Toms River School District: Unofficial Results
Seaside Heights voters rejected a plan to merge the island borough's school district with the Toms River Regional School District.
According to unofficial results, 232 voters in Seaside Heights voted "no" on the merger, while 167 voters said "yes" in the referendum on Tuesday, Apr. 16. The plan would have eventually closed the Seaside district's only school Hugh J. Boyd, Jr. Elementary School.
Mainland voters overwhelmingly approved the merger plan, which would have gone into effect in the 2024-25 school year. In Beachwood, Pine Beach, South Toms River, and Toms River, 7,186 voters sai…
Teacher Hit With New Charges In Case Involving Jersey Shore Student, Nude Photos: Prosecutor
A middle school teacher and high school advisor has been hit with new charges in a case involving a student and nude photos, authorities said.
Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, originally was charged on Wednesday, Oct. 25 with aggravated criminal sexual contact, child endangerment and official misconduct, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew Kunz.
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Fantasia was additionally charged with possession of child pornography and an additional count of child endangerment, Billhimer said.
A full forensic analy…
Jersey Shore Man Sent Texts With Racial Slurs, Threats: Prosecutor
A 44-year-old man from Ocean County is accused of texting another man with racial slurs and threats, authorities said.
Walter Maxim, of Beachwood, was charged with three counts of bias intimidation, terroristic threats, stalking, and harassment, according to Ocean County First Assistant Prosecutor Michael T. Nolan.
On Monday, Oct. 23, an individual appeared at Beachwood Police Department Headquarters to report that he and members of his family had been the victims of bias-related threats and communications.
The victim stated that his son attends school outside the state of New J…
Jersey Shore Man Charged In Fatal 86 MPH DWI Crash: Prosecutor
A 41-year-old man from the Jersey Shore has been charged with vehicular manslaughter in connection with a fatal high-speed crash in May, authorities said.
John Zinkoski, 41, of Beachwood, surrendered himself to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, Aug. 22, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
The charges are in connection with the alcohol-related crash that occurred in Plumsted Township which resulted in the death of Judi Smith, 59, of Browns Mills, the prosecutor said.
On May 12 at approximately 5:50 p.m., Plumsted Township police re…
Motorcyclist, 26-Year-Old Dad, Killed In Jersey Shore Crash
A 26-year-old motorcyclist and father of a 9-month-old girl was killed in a collision on the Jersey Shore last week, authorities said.
The driver of an SUV was ticketed for careless driving and making an improper turn, Berkeley Township police said.
The motorcyclist, identified as Daniel Wisnewski of Beachwood, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said on Friday, Sept. 9.
On Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 5:11 p.m, Berkeley police responded to 804 Pinewald-Keswick Road for a report of a motor vehicle crash with a motorcyclist down into the woods.
Officers bega…
Jersey Shore Man Admits Robbing Wawa, Shoprite, 7-Eleven, Other Stores: Prosecutor
A Jersey Shore man has pleaded guilty to robbing several stores and burglarizing a home, authorities said.
Thomas Jann, 34, of Beachwood, pled guilty to six counts of robbery and one count of burglary, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
The string of alleged crimes occurred between July 27, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020, in Toms River, Berkeley Township and Beachwood, the prosecutor said.
The State will seek a term of 16 years in New Jersey State Prison when Jann is sentenced on Jan. 14, 2022.
A joint investigation between the Toms River, Berke…
Prosecutor: Jersey Shore Man Sentenced To State Prison For Fatal Shooting Of Beachwood Man, 27
A 32-year-old Ocean County man has been sentenced to state prison for fatally shooting another man in South Toms River, authorities said Monday.
Marcus Samuels, of South Toms River, previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of Willie Love, 27, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a release.
Samuels was behind the wheel of a 2004 Dodge Nitro when he pulled up to a vehicle driven by Love, of Beachwood, and fatally shot him near the Community Medical Center on June 8, 2015, Billhimer said.
Love was later pronounced dead at Commu…
Jersey Shore Man Pleads Guilty In Fatal 2015 Shooting Death, Witness Tampering, Prosecutor Says
A 32-year-old man from South Toms River has admitted fatally shooting another Ocean County man six years ago, authorities said.
Marcus Samuels, 32, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and witness tampering, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.
Samuels also admitted to an unrelated charge of aggravated assault, authorities said.
Samuels' pleas came Friday in connection with the May 2015 shooting death of Willie Love, 27, of Beachwood, in Seaside Heights, the prosecutor said.
Love died of a gunshot wound to the chest at Community Medical Center in Toms River,…
Jersey Shore Bookie Admits Running Own ‘Pick Six’ Lottery, Cash Prizes Topped $100,000
A Jersey Shore bookmaker admitted in federal court on Tuesday that he operated his own lottery game in Hudson County using the numbers from the New Jersey Lottery Pick Six to award winners.
Up to 8,000 participants at a time selected six numbers from 1 to 49 at $20 a pop, Edward O’Neill, 54, told a U.S. District Court judge in Newark.
The sole winner of the illegal lottery was whoever matched all six numbers selected in the official Pick Six drawing.
Prizes often exceeded $100,000, said O’Neill, of Beachwood, who skimmed a 10% vig off the total bets.
Like bookies of days past, O’Neill per…
Ocean County Couple Arrested For Drug Dealing, 2,400 Heroin Bags Seized
Authorities in Ocean County have arrested a couple accused of drug dealing and seized 2,400 bags of heroin.
John Vaughn, 47, and Jennifer Vuono, 38, of Beachwood, were arrested on several drug dealing charges, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer
Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and the Beachwood Police Department Detective Bureau identified a residence in Beachwood being used to store and distribute heroin, Billhimer said.
On Dec. 18, authorities made a warranted search at a Beachwood residence.…
