The conviction of an area man Long Branch man, released from prison in 1997 after serving four years for the 1988 rape of a 17-year old girl, will be vacated, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced in a press release recently.
Continue reading Prosecutor: DNA Evidence Clears Area Man of Rape
A Monmouth County grand jury returned a nine-count indictment against four men charged with the 2009 killing of a beloved Red Bank school teacher found dead in her Neptune City apartment, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Monday.
Continue reading Prosecutor: Four Men Indicted in Red Bank Teacher’s Murder
An area teen has been arrested on burglary and drug possession and dealing charges in connection with a Tuesday morning burglary at a Middletown home.
Robert Fiore, 18, of Glenwood Avenue in the Leonardo section of Middletown, was arrested by Middletown Police Detectives Daniel Sullivan and Keith Hirschbein following the burglary of a home on Garfield Avenue in the Belford section of Middletown after recovering valuables allegedly stolen from the home and drugs in Fiore’s possession, a release from Middletown police said.
Fiore was charged with: burglary, theft, criminal mischief, possession of and possession with the intent to distribute 232 tablets of Xanax, possession and possession with the intent to distribute Ecstasy, possession and possession with the intent to distribute MDMA (Molly), and possession and possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of marijuana, according to police.
Fiore was committed to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold and is being held on $62,500 bail.
A press release from Red Bank police:
On Friday morning, the Red Bank Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant at a South Pearl Street residence.
The search warrant was issued following a month long investigation by Lt.Robert Clayton into sales of narcotics from the home.
Police charged Marcus A. Rice, 32, of South Pearl Street with: possession of CDS (cocaine), possession with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute in a school zone, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, unlawful possession of a handgun, and possession of a handgun while committing a narcotics offense.
Rice was committed to Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of bail set at $101,500.
* An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
The following recent arrests were made and reported by Red Bank police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
• Antonio Carino-Martinez, 35, of Red Bank, was arrested on Aug. 9 in the area of Herbert Street and charged with simple assault by Patrolman Sean Hauschildt.
• Davion Watkins, 31, of Red Bank, was arrested on Aug. 9 in the area of Leroy Place and charged with obstruction of administration of law, resisting arrest, possession of prescription legend drugs and on a contempt of court charge by Patrolman Sean Hauschildt.
• Vincent Cooper, 29, of Hamilton Square, was arrested on Aug. 8 in the area of Riverview Plaza and charged with taking by means of conveyance by Patrolman Dave Smith.
• Felipe Valente-Olivares, 35, of Red Bank, was arrested on Aug. 8 in the area of Washington Street and charged with simple assault by Patrolman Sean Hauschildt.
Continue reading Police Report Drug Possession, Assault, DWI Arrests
The following recent criminal incidents were reported by Red Bank police:
• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred on July 23 at a N. Bridge Avenue parking lot. The victim reported that someone keyed his parked vehicle in several spots.
Patrolman Michael Zadlock took the report.
• A theft was reported to have occurred on July 24 on Riverside Avenue. The victim reported that someone stole a pay check from the center console of a parked car.
Patrolman John Camarca took the report.
• A theft was reported to have occurred on Branch Avenue on July 31. The victim reported that someone entered his apartment and stole a bottle of prescription pain medication.
Patrolman Patrick Kennedy took the report.
Continue reading Police Report Theft, Criminal Mischief Close By
A 26-year-old Monmouth County man is facing up to 25 years in prison for his alleged role in the 2013 heroin overdose death of 25-year-old Christopher L. Pesce at the Rumson-based Oxford House, an addiction recovery home.
A Monmouth County grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Michael Renna, of Sylvania Avenue, Avon-by-the-Sea, with one count of first-degree strict liability for drug induced deaths and one count of third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni announced in a release.
The strict liability charge carries with it a maximum 20-year sentence in state prision and is subject to provisions of the No Early Release Act, which mandates him, if convicted, to serve 85 percent of the imposed sentence before becoming in eligible for parole. The distribution charge carries with it a sentence of a up to five years, Gramiccioni said.
Renna, who was arrested and charged with the two counts on Aug. 22, 2014, allegedly provided Pesce in Asbury Park with the ultimately fatal dose of heroin that he succumbed to on the night of Oct. 12 at Oxford House according to the prosecutor.
Renna’s $200,000 bail with no 10 percent option, ordered by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen, J.S.C., was posted on Aug. 25, 2014, three days after the arrest. He remains free on bail, the release said.
Pesce died from an overdose of the heroin allegedly given to him by Renna on Oct. 13, 2013 at about 8:15 p.m., when Rumson police responded to an emergency call at the Oxford House at 61 South Ward Ave. where Pesce had been living.
Police found Pesce dead there. His name was not initially released. The cause of death, determined to be acute heroin toxicity, was confirmed after Rumson police completed an investigation in conjunction with the county Prosecutor’s Office and post-mortem toxicity screenings were performed.
Pesce’s death was followed by another overdose incident not resulting in death in December of 2013, a couple months later.
The overdoses, one resulting in Pesce’s death, had West Park section neighbors riled over the recovery house and what they dubbed at a meeting on the subject its “sneaky” operation in a suburban neighborhood.
Such homes are a permitted use and do not require advance notice of their existence to neighbors.
Lawsuits ensued in the past couple of years — Rumson versus Oxford House and vice versa and have since been settled.
— Elaine Van Develde
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office advises that despite the charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and state law.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Christopher J. Decker, Director of the Prosecutor Office’s Major Crimes Bureau. Renna is represented by Mitchell J. Ansell, Esq. and Robert A. Honecker, Jr., Esq., both of Ocean Township.
The following recent arrests were made and reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
• Gary Close, 43, of 10th Avenue in the Belford section of Middletown, was arrested on July 20 by Patrolman Adam Colfer and charged with possession of cocaine, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and on a contempt of court warrant issued by the Middletown Municipal Court.
He was held on $13,000 bail, set by Judge Richard Thompson.
• Jose Bonilla, 44, of Laurel Avenue in Keansburg, was arrested on July 20 by Detective Keith Hirschbein and charged with possession of heroin, possession of hypodermic syringe, possession of drug paraphernalia and loitering to obtain a controlled dangerous substance.
He was released pending a court date.
• Jonathon Hamill, 28, of Baskenridge Drive in Middletown, was arrested on July 20 by Detective Daniel Sullivan and charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of hypodermic syringe.
He was held on $22,000 bail, set by Judge Richard Thompson.
Continue reading Police: Alleged Heroin Dealer Busted; $20K Bail
A 48-year-old area restaurant owner, who was convicted in May on 91 charges stemming from the sale of drugs and weapons out of his eatery, is facing 50 years in prison, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.
Long Branch resident Anthony “Nygee” Stevenson, owner of Cristabell’s American Soul Food Restaurant, on Springdale Avenue in the city, was sentenced on Wednesday to the 50 years in a New Jersey state prison with a 26-year period of parole ineligibility after Monmouth County Superior Court Judge John T. Mullaney, Jr. ordered the 91 counts be merged into eight for the purpose of sentencing and the periods of incarceration running consecutively.
Continue reading Area Man Gets 50 Years for Dealing Drugs, Weapons Out of Restaurant
The following recent criminal incidents were reported by Red Bank police:
• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred on July 16 in a Monmouth Street parking lot. Someone cracked the windshield on a parked vehicle.
Patrolman Matthew Ehrenreich took the report.
• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred sometime between July 17 and 19 on Tilton Avenue. The victim reported that an unknown person (or people) smashed the windshield on a parked truck.
Patrolman Shane Dengel took the report.
• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred sometime between June 17 and 19 in a Monmouth Street parking lot. The victim reported that an unknown person (or people) smashed both the front and rear windshield of a parked vehicle.
Patrolman Cevin Albert took the report.
• A theft was reported to have occurred on Maple Avenue on July 20. The victim reported that he placed his Samsung cell phone in a locker at the guy and when he went to retrieve it, it was missing.
Lt. Robert Kennedy took the report.
• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred sometime between July 19 and 20 in a Locust Avenue parking lot. The victim reported that someone slashed all four tires on a parked vehicle.
Sgt. David Hicks took the report.
• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred sometime between July 13 and 22 at the Red Bank Charter School on Oakland Street. There were reports of several tennis balls, that had been set on fire and burned, being found on the property. A square of concrete on the basketball court was also damaged by the burned tennis balls.
Patrolman Cevin Albert took the report.
The following recent arrests were made and reported by Middletown police. An arrest does not constitute a conviction.
• Brian Kavanagh, 49, of Swimming River Road in Colts Neck, was arrested on July 14 by Patrolman Ryan Riffert and charged with disorderly conduct.
He was released pending a court date.
• On July 15, Patrolman Nicholas Haines arrested a 17-year-old male juvenile from Red Bank and charged him with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was released pending a court date.
• On July 15, Patrolman Nicholas Haines arrested a 17-year-old male juvenile from Red Bank and charged him with possession of Psilocybin mushrooms.
He was released pending a court date.
Continue reading Police Report Arrests on Drugs, Theft, Burglary, Leaving Scene of Fatal Accident
The following criminal recent incidents were reported by Red Bank police.
• A theft was reported to have occurred on July 10 at a North Bridge Avenue parking lot. The victim reported that someone stole her purse, containing paperwork, sunglasses, a charger and more, from a parked car.
Patrolman Kristin Altimari took the report.
• An incident of criminal mischief was reported to have occurred on July 10 at a Mechanic Street parking lot. Juveniles were observed lighting a fire cracker on the trunk of a parked vehicle, causing damage to it.
Patrolman David Smith took the report.
• A theft was reported to have occurred at a Leroy Place residence on July 11. The victim reported that a Play Station and cash was stolen from their apartment.
Patrolman Kristin Altimari took the report.
• A robbery was reported to have occurred on July 14 in the area of River Street and Tilton Avenue. A cab driver reported that an unknown male passenger pulled a gun on him and demanded all his money. The driver reported that he turned over $86 in cash and the perpetrator fled.
Patrolman Ashon Lovick took the report.
• An attempted burglary was reported to have occurred at a West Bergen Place business between July 14 and 15. An unknown perpetrator reportedly tried to gain access into a building. The window was broken ad the door had pry marks on it. No entry was gained.
Lt. Robert Clayton investigated.
• A burglary was reported to have occurred sometime between July 14 and 15 at a Newman Springs Road business. An unknown perpetrator broke the glass door in, gained entry and stole cash from the register.
Patrolman Sean Hauschildt, Lt. Eliot Ramos and Inv. Heather Pubylski responded.
• A burglary was reported to have occurred sometime between July 14 and 15 at an East Newman Springs Road restaurant. An unknown perpetrator(s) gained entry into the restaurant by smashing glass in the front door. Once inside, the register drawer was pulled open and cash stolen.
Patrolman Sean Hauschildt, Inv. Heather Pubylski and Lt. Eliot Ramos responded.
• A burglary was reported to have occurred sometime between July 14 and 15 at a Maple Avenue business. An unknown perpetrator(s) pried front door to business open and gained entry. Three desks were damaged and broken into and a large amount of cash was stolen.
Patrolman Nicholas Maletto and Sgt. Wendy Samis responded.
• A burglary was reported to have occurred sometime between July 14 and 15 at a Newman Springs Road business. The perpetrator(s) gained entry into the business by forcing the front door open. Once inside, the register was removed and cash was stolen.
Patrolman Kristin Altimari and Sgt. Joey Fields responded.
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