Category Archives: Regional Interest

Prosecutor: Man Indicted on Murder & Felony Murder Charges After Photojournalist’s Death

A Monmouth County grand jury has returned a seven-count indictment, adding charges of murder and felony murder, against a Sayreville man in connection with the 2018 killing of a 56-year-old photojournalist Jerry Wolkowitz, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Monday. 

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Prosecutor: DWI Arrest Made in Fatal Pedestrian Accident

A Belford man has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) and reckless driving in connection with an accident that left two pedestrians dead in Atlantic Highlands on Friday, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Monday.

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Prosecutor: Caretaker Charged with $11K Theft from Elderly Patient

A former home health aide has been arrested and charged with pilfering more $11,000 in unauthorized purchases on the credit cards of an elderly victim under her care. She is facing up to 15 years in prison and $15,000 in fines, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said on Friday.

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Prosecutor: Area Man Facing 20 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault of Minor

An Aberdeen man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a minor for roughly two years, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Monday.

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Prosecutor: Area Man Arrested on Child Porn Charges

A Monmouth County man has been arrested and charged with the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials and could face up to 15 years in prison, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni announced on Wednesday. 

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Prosecutor: Neighbor Pleads Guilty to Murder, Sex Assault of 11-Year-Old Girl

The upstairs neighbor of an 11-year-old has pleaded guilty to her 2017 murder and sexual assault, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Andreas Erazo, 20, of Keansburg, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to first-degree murder and first-degree aggravated sexual assault in connection with the July 13, 2017 death of Abbiegail “Abbie” Smith, who was found just hours after she was reported missing from her Hancock Street apartment in Keansburg.

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Prosecutor: Brother Indicted in Colts Neck Family Killings

A Monmouth County grand jury has returned a 16-count indictment against the brother of a Colts Neck man who was found dead along with his wife and two children just days before Thanksgiving, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced Monday morning.

The indictment charges Paul J. Caneiro, 51, of Ocean Township, with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree felony murder, two counts of second-degree aggravated arson, one count of second-degree possession of a weapon (firearm) for an unlawful purpose, one count of third-degree possession of a weapon (knife) for an unlawful purpose, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon (firearm), one count of fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon (knife), one count of second-degree theft, one count of second-degree misapplication of entrusted property and two counts of third-degree hindering apprehension of oneself, in connection with the slaying of his brother Keith Caneiro, 50, his sister-in-law Jennifer Caneiro, 45, his nephew Jesse, 11, and his niece Sophia, 8, on Nov. 20, 2018. 

The joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Colts Neck and Ocean Township police departments has expanded to include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), New Jersey State Police, New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and Monmouth County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Paul J. Caneiro remains detained pending trial in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township. 

If convicted of Murder, Caneiro faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole on each count. Felony murder carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA). Aggravated arson carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison, also subject to the provisions of NERA. The remaining second-degree offenses each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison, while the third degree offenses each carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison.   

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher J. Decker, Director of the Office’s Major Crimes Bureau and Assistant Prosecutor Nicole Wallace.

Defendant is being represented by Mitchell Ansell, Esq., and Robert J. Honecker, Jr. Esq. of Ocean Township.

Investigators continue to seek additional information about the case. Anyone with information about the Colts Neck murders and arson is asked to call Detective Patrick Petruzziello of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Richard Zarrillo of the Colts Neck Police Department at 732-780-7323.

Anyone with information about the Ocean Township arson is urged to call Detective Brian Weisbrot of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Christopher Brady of the Ocean Township Police Department at 732-531-1428.

— Press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

Prosecutor: Authorities Seek Help in Animal Cruelty Case

Authorities are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the person or people responsible for the killing of two cats, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Wednesday.

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Prosecutor: Long Branch Cop Facing Criminal Sexual Contact, Harassment Charges

A Long Branch police officer is facing charges of criminal sexual contact and harassment stemming from an incident at a recent police promotions party at a city bar, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Friday. If convicted, he could face up to 18 months in state prison on one charge and 30 days in county jail on the other.

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Prosecutor: Probation Officer Facing Sexual Assault Charges

A New Jersey state probation officer was arrested on Monday and charged with the sexual assault of a woman whom he supervised on probation, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Tuesday.

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