South Jersey Registered Sex Offender Who Sexually Abused 13-Year-Old Sentenced: Prosecutors South Jersey Registered Sex Offender Who Sexually Abused 13-Year-Old Sentenced: Prosecutors
South Jersey Registered Sex Offender Who Sexually Abused 13-Year-Old Sentenced: Prosecutors A registered sex offender in Atlantic County will spend more than a decade in prison for sexually assaulting a child, authorities said. Marcelino Cruz, 35, of Mullica Township, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 4 to 16 years in state prison, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. A jury found him guilty on Wednesday, Feb. 7 of second-degree sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of child sexual abuse material. An investigation began when a 13-year-old's mother found disturbing text messages on the child's phone. Police co…
Central Jersey Man Sentenced In Fatal Hit-Run Crash Central Jersey Man Sentenced In Fatal Hit-Run Crash
Central Jersey Man Sentenced In Fatal Hit-Run Crash A 23-year-old man from Woodbridge has been sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison for a fatal hit-and-run crash, authorities said. Antonio Rivera was sentenced on Monday, June 3 in connection with a fatal crash that occurred on August 31, 2023, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone. At 5:40 p.m. that day, Woodbridge Police responded to the intersection of Woodbridge Center Drive and Plaza Drive following the report of hit and run.  Police found the victim, Kristen Bruschi, 45, of Fords who was struck by a black Ford Mustang while she …
5 First Responders Injured In Massive Somerville Fire (UPDATE) 5 First Responders Injured In Massive Somerville Fire (UPDATE)
5 First Responders Injured In Massive Somerville Fire (Update) Sixteen people from eight different families were displaced and five responders were injured by a fire that swept through Somerville's downtown on Tuesday, June 4, officials said. Firefighters responded to West Main Street for the four-alarm blaze just after 2:30 p.m., the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said. A Somerville police officer and four firefighters suffered minor injuries, officials said. Everyone injured was released from a nearby hospital, authorities said. Two residents and commercial structures were heavily damaged. 6/4/2024 W. Main Street, Somerville Credit: S. Bi…
Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man
Reality Bites NJ ‘Real Housewives’ Ex Convicted Of Hiring Mobster To Beat Wife’s New Man 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Reality bit the ex-husband of “Real Housewives of New Jersey” cast member Dina Manzo when he was convicted Tuesday of getting a mob soldier to throw her new beau a beating. Restaurateur Thomas Manzo, 59, who lives in the affluent Bergen County suburb of Franklin Lakes, rejected a plea deal from federal prosecutors and took his chances with a jury. That didn’t go so good. Jurors in U.S. District Court in Newark convicted Manzo on June 4 of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering, along with conspiracy and falsifying documents during a grand jury investigation. Althou…
Apartment Maintenance Worker Who Stole $4,500, Smartwatch In Jackson Twp. Sentenced: Prosecutor Apartment Maintenance Worker Who Stole $4,500, Smartwatch In Jackson Twp. Sentenced: Prosecutor
Apartment Maintenance Worker Who Stole $4,500, Smartwatch In Jackson Twp. Sentenced: Prosecutor A maintenance worker will spend nearly a year in jail after he was convicted of stealing $4,500 and a smartwatch at an Ocean County apartment complex, authorities said. Troy Jones, 58, of Jackson Township, was sentenced on Friday, May 31 to 364 days in the Ocean County Jail as a condition of a three-year probation term, county prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Tuesday, June 4. A jury found him guilty on Wednesday, Mar. 20 after a nearly two-week trial. Jackson Township police responded to a reported theft at an apartment in The Ga…
10-Year Prison Minimum Awaits NJ Catholic School Teacher Who Took Upskirts Of Girls In Class 10-Year Prison Minimum Awaits NJ Catholic School Teacher Who Took Upskirts Of Girls In Class
10-Year Prison Minimum Awaits NJ Catholic School Teacher Who Took Upskirts Of Girls In Class UPDATE: A North Jersey school teacher who took upskirt photos and videos of female students faces at least 10 years in state prison when he’s sentenced next month. Michael F. Wagner, 41, of Hopatcong took a deal from prosecutors rather than risk the potential outcome of a trial, admitting that he recorded female 8th graders of his at Pope John XXIII Regional High School in Sparta during class and collected child porn. In order to secure the agreement – and whatever leniency may come at his July 26 sentencing in Newton -- Wagner had to plead guilty earlier this month to first-degree child en…
VIDEO: Atlantic City Police Officer Rescues Teen Girl, Four Pets From House Fire VIDEO: Atlantic City Police Officer Rescues Teen Girl, Four Pets From House Fire
Video: Atlantic City Police Officer Rescues Teen Girl, Four Pets From House Fire An Atlantic City police officer was praised for rescuing a teen and four pets from a house fire, authorities said. Officer Riley Flynn saved the girl and animals at around 12:58 a.m. on Sunday, May 26, the Atlantic City Police Department said in a news release. The police department also released body camera video of the rescue on Tuesday, June 4. The video showed Officer Flynn running toward someone yelling for help outside a home on the 800 block of North Maryland Avenue. "I tried to bust down this window," one witness said. "I can't do anything." Officer Flynn notic…
Toms River Teen Drove Drunk, High On Marijuana In Crash That Killed Brick Teen: Prosecutors Toms River Teen Drove Drunk, High On Marijuana In Crash That Killed Brick Teen: Prosecutors
Toms River Teen Drove Drunk, High On Marijuana In Crash That Killed Brick Teen: Prosecutors A Toms River teen was accused of driving while drunk and high on marijuana in a crash that killed one of her passengers, authorities said. Kailyn Gorga, 18, was charged on Friday, May 31 with vehicular homicide and assault by auto, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release on Tuesday, June 4. Her charges were from an early morning crash in Manchester Township on Sunday, Apr. 14 that killed 18-year-old Catalina Reinoso of Brick Township. Manchester police responded to the one-car crash on Lacey Road in the Whiting section of the township at around 2:50 a.m. G…
Woman Charged With DWI After NJ Transit Train Hits Empty Vehicle In Central Jersey Woman Charged With DWI After NJ Transit Train Hits Empty Vehicle In Central Jersey
Woman Charged With DWI After NJ Transit Train Hits Empty Vehicle In Central Jersey A Long Branch woman was accused of driving while intoxicated after an empty vehicle was struck by a New Jersey Transit train, authorities said. North Jersey Coast Line train No. 4384 hit an unoccupied vehicle in Long Branch at around 8:59 p.m. on Monday, June 3, an NJ Transit spokesperson said. The vehicle was struck at the Cedar Avenue crossing between the Long Branch and Elberon stations. The train left the Bay Head station at 8:28 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Long Branch at 9:06 p.m. None of the 25 passengers or crew members were injured.  Investigators said Lisa Doren…
Tractor-Trailer Smashes Into Several Vehicles Parked Outside Point Pleasant Beach Supermarket Tractor-Trailer Smashes Into Several Vehicles Parked Outside Point Pleasant Beach Supermarket
Tractor-Trailer Smashes Into Several Vehicles Parked Outside Point Pleasant Beach Supermarket A tractor-trailer crashed into several vehicles parked in front of an Ocean County supermarket, officials said. The crash happened on Route 35 South near the intersection of Laurel Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach on Monday, June 3, the Ocean Fire Company said in a Facebook post. Firefighters found the tractor-trailer hit several parked vehicles in front of Stop & Shop. One vehicle overturned and landed on the truck's trailer, firefighters said. Pictures from the scene appeared to show a Jeep Wrangler's roof leaning on the tractor-trailer's flatbed. Facebook - Ocean Fire Comp…
Toms River Boater, 53, Dies After Circling Vessel Runs Aground On Raritan River, Police Say Toms River Boater, 53, Dies After Circling Vessel Runs Aground On Raritan River, Police Say
Toms River Boater, 53, Dies After Circling Vessel Runs Aground On Raritan River, Police Say A 53-year-old man died after his boat ran aground on the Raritan Bay Monday, June 3, authorities said. Kenneth Halvorsen Jr., of Toms River, was found on the vessel that had been moving in a circular pattern in the bay in Sayreville around 1:55 p.m., New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron said. The boat ran aground prior to troopers' arrival, Lebron said. Halvorsen was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead. Halvorsen worked at Pells Bait and Tackle, a fishing shop in Brick, according to social media and those who knew him. Rest easy my friend. Your loss is huge in the f…
Former Sprinter Killed In Crash 'Left A Lasting Footprint' On South Jersey HS Track Team Former Sprinter Killed In Crash 'Left A Lasting Footprint' On South Jersey HS Track Team
Former Sprinter Killed In Crash 'Left A Lasting Footprint' On South Jersey HS Track Team Friends and former teammates were remembering a Mays Landing teen who died after crashing his motorcycle, according to a fundraising campaign. A GoFundMe page was created for 19-year-old Jeremiah St. Surin after he was killed in the crash at around 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. Egg Harbor Township police said St. Surin's motorcycle struck a Ford Explorer at the intersection of West Jersey Avenue and Cates Road. The 38-year-old woman driving the SUV suffered minor injuries when her airbags deployed in the crash. No other injuries were reported. The GoFundMe pa…