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Tag: Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office
South Amboy Man Who Fatally Struck Mother Of 4, Left Scene, Learns Fate: Prosecutor
A 21-year-old South Amboy resident was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday, June 13, after he previously pleaded guilty to fatally striking a pedestrian and leaving the scene in a crash last year, authorities said.
On Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at 9:15 p.m., Brick Township police responded to Route 35 South and Bay Avenue after a pedestrian, Julia Sutton, a 56-year-old Weehawken resident, who was out jogging, was struck by a 1999 Ford Explorer that fled the scene, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
Sutton was taken to Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center, wh…
34+ Lbs. Of Marijuana, Cocaine, THC: NJ Man Busted, Ocean County Prosecutor Says
A 45-year-old Monmouth County resident was arrested and hit with numerous drug charges following a three-month investigation, Ocean County prosecutors announced Thursday, June 12.
Gary Johnson used his residence in Allentown, New Jersey and a storage facility in Trenton to store and distribute cocaine, marijuana, THC products and psilocybin, Ocean County Bradley Billhimer said.
On Wednesday, May 28, Johnson's Allentown residence was placed under surveillance by various law enforcement agencies, Billhimer said. Detectives observed Johnson travel from the home to Asbury Park, Billhimer s…
Toms River Arsonist Admits To Starting Brick Blaze That Injured 3 Firefighters: Prosecutors
A 51-year-old Toms River man pleaded guilty on Monday, June 9, to intentionally starting a fire in Brick Township, injuring three firefighters, authorities said.
Charles Maulbeck pleaded guilty to arson and criminal mischief, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. Per the terms of a plea agreement, he is expected to be sentenced to three years in prison, Billhimer said.
On Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, Brick Township police saw smoke and heavy fire at a home on Falkenberg Road, Billhimer said. Two firefighters were treated and released from a nearby hospital, while a third dec…
2 Teens Caused Barnegat Blaze By Firing Flare Gun: Prosecutor
Two teenagers were arrested and charged Monday, June 9, after they started a fire in Barnegat by firing a flare gun last weekend, authorities said.
On Saturday, June 7, at 2:50 p.m. Barnegat Township police and fire departments responded to a home on Schooner Avenue for a report of a fire, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
The fire was extinguished prior to their arrival and an investigation revealed the fire was caused by Kaele Principato, an 18-year-old Barnegat resident, and Lucas Pyle, an 18-year-old Egg Harbor City resident, firing a flare gun through the window of t…
Toms River Man Shows Up To House, Stabs Victim During Fight: Prosecutor
A 57-year-old Toms River man was arrested after police say he stabbed another man multiple times after showing up to a home in the Ortley Beach section of town on Thursday night, June 5.
Patrick Robertelli was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, weapons offenses, harassment, and stalking, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said on Friday, June 6.
Officers responded to a disturbance on Harding Avenue around 10:45 p.m., where they found Robertelli and a 52-year-old man in a physical fight, authorities said.
As officers broke up the altercation, they discovered the 52…
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Brick Armed Robbery: Prosecutor
A 50-year-old Brooklyn man pleaded guilty on Friday, May 23, to committing a robbery at gunpoint in Brick Township in 2023, authorities said.
Per the terms of the plea agreement, Vongvichit Vatthanavong is expected to be sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in July, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
On Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, at 12:20 a.m. Brick Township police responded to a report of a robbery at a residence on Pershing Avenue, Billhimer said.
As a homeowner was exiting his vehicle and approaching his residence, he was approached by three masked individuals - one of them armed…
Suspended Driver Charged After Airborne Crash Kills Woman In Lakewood: Prosecutor
A 56-year-old Toms River man is facing charges after a passenger in a car he was driving was killed in a crash early Tuesday morning, May 13, authorities said.
At 1:35 a.m., Lakewood police responded to Cedar Bridge Avenue near the Garden State Parkway after a truck struck overhead utility wires, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
While on scene, officers discovered a heavily damaged 2015 Nissan Altima overturned in a drainage ditch, adjacent to Cedar Bridge Avenue, Billhimer said. Martine Taylor, the driver, and a 52-year-old female passenger were entrapped in the vehicle, Bil…
Dealing Cocaine Sends South Toms River Man to Prison: Prosecutor
A 39-year-old South Toms River resident pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute on Friday, May 9, authorities said.
Per the terms of a plea agreement, Angel Perez is expected to be sentenced to seven years in prison, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
On Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, detectives investigating the distribution of cocaine observed two motor vehicles parked next to each other near the Presidential Apartments, Billhimer said.
Detectives saw a woman exit her vehicle and enter the passenger’s side of the second vehicle, operated by Perez, Billh…
Jackson Man Arrested In Toms River Murder Hours After Cops Responded To Home For Stabbing
A Jackson Township man was arrested and charged after two people were stabbed — one fatally — during a violent early morning altercation at a Toms River home, officials said.
Steven McNeill, 32, was charged with Murder, Attempted Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, and Eluding, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer
The attack happened on Friday, May 9, around 7:20 a.m., when Toms River Police responded to a 911 call about an altercation on Adams Avenue. The call was made …
17-Year-Old Helped Set Pallets Ablaze Sparking Jones Road Wildfire: Prosecutor
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the massive wildfire that burned through Ocean County last week, authorities announced.
The teen, whose name was not released because of his age, was taken into custody on Wednesday, May 1, and charged with aggravated arson, arson, and hindering apprehension, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said on Friday, May 2.
Joseph Kling, 19, of Waretown, was previously arrested and charged with aggravated arson and arson for setting wooden pallets on fire and leaving before it was out, Billhimer said.
Kling was taken into custod…
68 Cats Euthanized, Brick Man Learns Fate For Animal Cruelty: Prosecutor
A Brick man who kept more than 150 cats in his residence was sentenced to 180 days in jail on Friday, April 25, after previously pleading guilty to animal cruelty, authorities said.
On Thursday, May 4, 2023, Jeffrey Finlay called police to his home on Mantoloking Road, asking them to help remove an excessive number of animals from his residence, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. Officers discovered approximately 157 cats and 3 dogs living at the residence, Billhimer said.
Over a day, the animals were removed from the residence and transferred for treatment and evaluation, Bil…
Waretown Man, 19, Charged In Jones Road Wildfire Over Improper Bonfire: Prosecutor
A 19-year-old New Jersey man has been charged with setting the massive wildfire that scorched 15,000 acres and destroyed a commercial building this week, officials announced.
Joseph Kling, of Ocean Township (Waretown), was charged with Aggravated Arson and Arson in connection with the Tuesday, April 22 blaze, according to a joint statement from Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, NJ DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, and Ocean Township Police Chief Michal Rogalski.
The fire was first spotted at 9:45 a.m. by the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower, which reported seeing smoke near Jones Roa…
Two South River Men Sold Fentanyl That Killed Barnegat Woman: Prosecutor
Two South River men were arrested and charged on Tuesday, April 22, after authorities say they sold fentanyl that killed a 34-year-old woman two months ago.
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Barnegat Township Police responded to a residence and found a woman, who was not identified, dead from a drug overdose, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
An investigation determined Jeffrey Zachary, 56, and Ronald Zackery, 59, supplied the woman with heroin and fentanyl, Billhimer said.
The next day, detectives began surveilling Zachary, pulling him over in Barnegat, Billhimer said A search warrant …
Brick Man Touched 8-Year-Old At Walmart, Busted Shoplifting At Target: Prosecutor
A 24-year-old Brick Township man was arrested and charged while shoplifting at Target after being inappropriate with a child at Walmart, authorities announced on Monday, April 21.
On Wednesday, April 9, an 8-year-old girl was standing in the aisle at Walmart on 1872 Route 88 when a man, later identified as Sean Slowinski, approached her, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. While standing near her, Slowinski grabbed the girl's hand and put it in his sweatshirt pocket, engaging with her verbally before walking away, Billhimer said.
On Friday, April 18, Brick Township police respon…
Cocaine, Meth, Marijuana: Toms River Man Arrested Twice, Prosecutor Says
A 39-year-old Toms River man was recently arrested twice and charged with storing and distributing cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, authorities said.
On Thursday, March 20, detectives began surveilling Jonathan Acosta’s residence, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said.
After he was taken into custody following a traffic stop, a search warrant was executed on his residence, which saw the seizure of 21 grams of meth, approximately one-half pound of marijuana, a quantity of cocaine, and materials indicative of narcotics distribution, Billhimer said.
Acosta was hit with numerou…
NJ Mom Found Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity After Drowning Toddlers: Report
A 27-year-old Lakewood mother who drowned her two toddlers was found not guilty by reason of insanity, a judge ruled Tuesday, April 1, according to Asbury Park Press.
Naomi Elkins was ordered to be committed to a secure psychiatric hospital for two lifetimes, the outlet said citing a judge's ruling. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office did not respond to a request for comment.
The mom told investigators she drowned her two daughters, 3 years old and 22 months old, on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, for "religious" reasons, while her husband was away on business, according to arrest records obt…
