Pants On Fire: Long Island Firefighter Lied About Responding To Emergency Calls, DA Says Pants On Fire: Long Island Firefighter Lied About Responding To Emergency Calls, DA Says
Pants On Fire: Long Island Firefighter Lied About Responding To Emergency Calls, DA Says A volunteer firefighter on Long Island is accused of altering public records in order to give himself and his relatives credit for emergency calls they never responded to. James Burns, age 27, of Cutchogue, was arrested Wednesday, March 6, following an investigation by the Suffolk County DA’s Public Corruption Squad. Prosecutors said Burns illegally accessed an internal computer system at the Cutchogue Fire Department in September 2023 and made 96 changes to the records of 55 prior emergency calls. He allegedly changed the records to show that he and three relatives had responded to prior …
NJ Officer Who Caused 22 Fractures In 9-Year-Old Son's Body Convicted: Prosecutor NJ Officer Who Caused 22 Fractures In 9-Year-Old Son's Body Convicted: Prosecutor
NJ Officer Who Caused 22 Fractures In 9-Year-Old Son's Body Convicted: Prosecutor A 53-year-old East Orange police officer faces up to 80 years in prison after being convicted of assaulting his 9-year-old son in 2018 on Friday, March 1, authorities said. In February 2018, Devin Higgs, a West Orange resident, brought his son to the hospital for injuries that Higgs said were from a fall, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens, II said.  The child had suffered 22 fractures on his ribs and a fractured scapula bone, along with bruises, scars and marks on his body, a sign of child abuse, Stephens said. Neither Higgs nor his son had explanations for his injuries, …
Two Paterson Inspectors Took Bribes For Permits: NJ Attorney General Two Paterson Inspectors Took Bribes For Permits: NJ Attorney General
Two Paterson Inspectors Took Bribes For Permits: NJ Attorney General Two Paterson housing and zoning inspectors were indicted on Tuesday, Feb. 20 for accepting bribes in exchange for issuing illegitimate building permits, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said. Jose Fermin, a 50-year-old Prospect Park resident and Jose Juan Guerrero-Cruz, a 44-year-old Florida resident carried out their scheme between Dec. 2020 and Feb. 2022,  producing bogus documents that including imitation signatures purportedly written by Paterson’s Planning and Zoning Director, Platkin said.  Guerrero-Cruz and Fermin would accept money in exchange for Fermin producing the…
Teacher Accused Of Molesting Girl In South Jersey Dies Weeks Before Trial Teacher Accused Of Molesting Girl In South Jersey Dies Weeks Before Trial
Teacher Accused Of Molesting Girl In South Jersey Dies Weeks Before Trial A South Jersey teacher accused of molesting a 12-year-old student in 2020 has died just weeks before his trial, according to an obituary published by Farnelli Funeral Home. Paul A. VanHouten Jr., 57, of Williamstown, died on Thursday, Feb. 22. A cause of death was not mentioned in the obit. The story was first reported by NJ Advance Media. His attorney, Robert N. Agre, was in court and unavailable for comment when Daily Voice reached out Monday, Feb. 26. A trial for VanHouten was set to begin on March 4 on charges of second-degree sexual assault, child endangerment and official miscon…
Former South Jersey Police Officer Indicted For Leaking College Women's Nude Pics: Prosecutors Former South Jersey Police Officer Indicted For Leaking College Women's Nude Pics: Prosecutors
Former South Jersey Police Officer Indicted For Leaking College Women's Nude Pics: Prosecutors A former Mount Laurel police officer was indicted after prosecutors said he hacked into the social media accounts of female college students and leaked nude pictures of them. A grand jury issued an indictment against 24-year-old Ayron Taylor of Moorestown on 96 counts, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw announced on Tuesday, Feb. 22. He was charged in 2022 and investigators said he illegally accessed more than 5,000 student email accounts from Rowan College at Burlington County. Taylor was indicted on Thursday, Feb. 15. He was charged with 54 counts of elements of computer th…
Hudson Valley Court Clerk Accused Of 'Fixing' Tickets For Friends Hudson Valley Court Clerk Accused Of 'Fixing' Tickets For Friends
Hudson Valley Court Clerk Accused Of 'Fixing' Tickets For Friends A court clerk in the region has been charged with allegedly falsifying business records for "fixing" tickets for friends. Ulster County resident Haley Whalen, age 25, of Ulster Park, was arrested on Tuesday, Feb. 13 following an investigation by state police. According to Trooper Steven Nevel, of the New York State Police, an investigation revealed that Whalen, a court clerk with the Town of Saugerties Court, unofficially used her credentials to dismiss tickets on behalf of acquaintances. Whalen was charged with: Four counts of falsifying business records Four counts of tampering with pu…
School Custodian Indicted For Urinating, Spreading Feces On Children's Food In South Jersey School Custodian Indicted For Urinating, Spreading Feces On Children's Food In South Jersey
School Custodian Indicted For Urinating, Spreading Feces On Children's Food In South Jersey A Cumberland County grand jury has indicted a school custodian on charges that he intentionally contaminated food and utensils with bodily fluids and bleach. Giovanni A. Impellizzeri, 26, of Vineland, worked at Elizabeth F. Moore School in Upper Deerfield, where prosecutors say he put feces in food, rubbed his anus and genitals on bread, sprayed bleach on vegetables, urinated in mixing bowls, and performed sex acts with items at the school. A Cumberland County grand jury indicted Impellizzeri on charges including official misconduct, aggravated assault, knowingly tampering with food product…
Ex-Fire Department Treasurer Steals $30K Of Long Island Government Funds, DA Says Ex-Fire Department Treasurer Steals $30K Of Long Island Government Funds, DA Says
Ex-Fire Department Treasurer Steals $30K Of Long Island Government Funds, DA Says A former fire department treasurer from Long Island is accused of using the department’s debit cards for personal use, withdrawing cash from out-of-state casinos. Richard Bopp, age 45, of Malverne, faced his charges on Thursday, Feb. 8, the Nassau County District Attorney announced. Bopp served as Chief of the Malverne Fire Department from 2019 to 2021; then, starting in April 2021, he became the department’s treasurer. According to the DA’s Office, From July 2021 to May 2023, Bopp wrote and cashed five checks from the department to himself, totaling about $5,000. He also is alleged t…
Former Jersey Shore Mayor Sentenced For Taking Money From Parking Meters, Government Auctions Former Jersey Shore Mayor Sentenced For Taking Money From Parking Meters, Government Auctions
Former Jersey Shore Mayor Sentenced For Taking Money From Parking Meters, Government Auctions A former mayor of Ocean Gate will spend time in state prison for pocketing money from government auctions, parking meter funds, and scrap metal sales, authorities said. Paul Kennedy, 68, of Ocean Gate, was sentenced on Friday, Jan. 26 to three years in prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced. Kennedy pleaded guilty on Friday, Sept. 22 to pattern of official misconduct. As part of his plea deal, Kennedy is banned from holding public office or employment. Investigators said that while he was mayor, Kennedy took money from borough assets sold on the government auc…
NJ Corrections Officer Sentenced For Smuggling Phones Into Jail NJ Corrections Officer Sentenced For Smuggling Phones Into Jail
NJ Corrections Officer Sentenced For Smuggling Phones Into Jail A former Atlantic County corrections officer will spend time in prison after he smuggled cell phones into the county's jail, authorities said. Gerald Oquendo, 35, of Mays Landing, was sentenced on Tuesday, Jan. 23 to three years in state prison, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced. He'll be eligible for parole after two years. Investigators said two family members of an inmate paid Oquendo to bring cell phones into the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Recorded audio captured the family members and inmate talking about the smuggling.  Surveillance video showed Oquendo br…
Atlantic County Jail Officer Lied About Contraband Taken From Inmate: Prosecutor Atlantic County Jail Officer Lied About Contraband Taken From Inmate: Prosecutor
Atlantic County Jail Officer Lied About Contraband Taken From Inmate: Prosecutor A sergeant at the Atlantic County Justice Facility is accused of hiding or destroying contraband taken from an inmate, prosecutors said. Fred Gilbert, 37, of Egg Harbor City is facing six charges related to an incident last year at the jail in Mays Landing, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office announced on Wednesday, Jan. 10.  Gilbert is charged with second-degree official misconduct, third-degree witness tampering, fourth-degree obstruction, two counts of fourth-degree false reporting to law enforcement authorities, and fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence. Prosecut…
Nurse Working At Prison On Long Island Gave Inmate Blade, Money: DA Nurse Working At Prison On Long Island Gave Inmate Blade, Money: DA
Nurse Working At Prison On Long Island Gave Inmate Blade, Money: DA A managing nurse working at a correctional center on Long Island was caught smuggling a blade to an inmate, discussing information about other inmates, and more, authorities said. Yasmin Talbot, age 48 of Levittown, was arraigned on Thursday, Jan. 4 for her alleged monthslong relationship with an inmate, according to the Nassau County District Attorney. Talbot, a nurse manager at Nassau County Correctional Center (NCCC), was the second-highest-ranking nurse at the facility when, according to the indictment, she started speaking to 37-year-old inmate Christopher Wright in January 2023. Th…