Union Beach Man Charged With Setting Fire To Hazlet First Aid Building

Ronald Schroeder,  43 of Union Beach, was charged with second degree Aggravated Arson today for allegedly setting fire inside the lounge of Hazlet First Aid Unit 1 Building at 33 Leocadia Court on Sunday, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The fire was reported at 5:07 pm on Sunday.  Firefighters from the West Keansburg and North Centerville Fire Departments extinguished the blaze with assistance from Union Beach and Matawan firefighters.  An investigation determined that the fire was set intentionally, that Schroeder was the only person in building and that he was seen fleeing the building.  He returned while firefighters were still on the scene.

Schroeder is a probationary member of the First Aid Squad, having volunteered a short time ago.  He was arrested by the Hazlet Police and is in custody at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold.  His bail is $100,000 with not 10% option and is prohibited from returning to the building if his bail is posted.

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Essex County authorities’ mistake puts innocent man in jail for 27 days

Essex County authorities’ mistake puts innocent man in jail for 27 days (via NJ.com)

Our story begins one evening six years ago, when Omar Sullivan opened an envelope from Essex County authorities and slowly read the document inside with rising terror. He’d had his share of parking tickets and moving violations, but this notice was…

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Jury Selection Starts For Eatontown Man Accused Of Throwing His Daughter Off A Bridge

Arthur Morgan III during a hearing at Monmouth County Court last October. Photo courtesy of Wall.Patch.com

Jury selection for the murder trial of Arthur Morgan III, 29 of Eatontown, started yesterday in Judge Anthony Mellaci’s courtroom in Freehold.  Jury selection is expected to continue throughout this week. Opening statements in Morgan’s trail could start as early as Tuesday, March 11, according to a statement by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Morgan is accused of murdering his 2-year old daughter, Tierra Morgan-Glover, on November 21, 2011, by tossing her off an overpass on Schoolhouse Road in the Shark River Park section of Wall Township.   Tierra’s mother filed a missing persons report after Morgan failed to return his daughter to her mother’s custody as agreed after a visitation scheduled for a few hours. The toddler’s body was discovered by passers-by on November 22, 2011.

Morgan fled the area and was apprehended in San Diego, CA on November 29, 2011.  He has been held on $10 million bail in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution since his extradition.

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Tip Line Leads To Pedophile Arrest

Kevin Motkya’s facebook profile picture. Photo altered to hide the identity of the child.

A tip made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children lead to the arrest of a 22 year old Howell Township man on Monday, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Kevin Motkya was arrested by detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office on charges of manufacturing and distributing child pornography as well as the sexual assault of a toddler.

Motkya is charged with one count of second degree Sexual Assault, one count of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for engaging in sexual conduct that would impair or debauch the morals of a child; one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for causing a child to engage in a prohibited sexual act knowing or intending it would be photographed or filmed; one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for manufacturing child pornography; two counts of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for distribution of child pornography; and one count of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for possession of child pornography.

Motyka is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, on $700,000 bail with no option to post 10 percent, and the added condition he not return to his home if he is released on bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.

Several computers and computer-related items were seized from Motyka’s home.<

The investigation is active and ongoing, and anyone with information related to this case is urged to call the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-553-7443.

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“Operation Dead End” Nets 28 In Asbury Park Gang-Affliliated Sweep, 3 Fugitives Still At Large

Asbury Park Police Officer Keith German is one of 31 charged in gang affiliated criminal organization

Acting Monmouth Prosecutor Gramiccioni announces Operation Dead End arrests in Asbury Park. Click photo for larger view.

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni was joined by representatives of 26 Monmouth County and federal law enforcement agencies this afternoon when he announced charges levied against 31 people, including known members of the Bloods and Crips gangs as well as an Asbury Park Police Officer on charges including racketeering conspiracy, narcotics distribution, illegal possession of firearms, promoting organized street crime, armed robbery, shoplifting and endangering the welfare of of child.

Asbury Park Patrolman Keith German, a 16 year veteran of the department, was arrested and charged official misconduct and unauthorized access of a computer database for his alleged role in the criminal enterprise whereby he shared information with gang members in an effort to help them avoid arrest. Gramiccioni declined to share any evidence of German’s motives for participating in the criminal enterprise or to say if he would face additional charges.

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Trooper on Christie’s Security Detail Busted for Theft in PA

A 35 year old State Trooper assigned to protect Governor Chris Christie and his family was arrested on theft charges in Hamburg, Pennsylvania last month, according to a report at NJWatchdog.

Trooper William A. Carvounis of North Brunswick is accused of stealing $267 in gun supplies and other goods from a Cabela’s store.

“During the course of his shopping, (Carvounis) would place items in his shopping basket. While walking around and continuing to shop, he would take various merchandise out of the package and conceal in his pockets…He would discard the empty packages on shelves throughout the store,” wrote Schwoyer in his sworn statement.

Security video also caught Carvounis’ coup de grace: The trooper tore the price tag from a Cabela’s hat, which he wore while trying to leave the store.

When Carvounis was apprehended and searched, authorities found a concealed weapon along with the pilfered loot. They soon realized their suspect was a law enforcement officer.

The report said Carvounis tried to get the retailer and the local police to drop the matter as a “professional courtesy” and that he invoked his connection to Christie in his plea for leniency.

Carvounis has been suspended from the NJ State Police and is due in Berks County Court of Common Pleas for his arraignment on February 10.

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Asbury Park needs media attention, U.S. Attorney’s assistance

By Tommy DeSeno

What helps a city fight crime? Media attention. Crime fighters don’t wish to be seen losing in the media.

Asbury Park’s gun crimes and murders get less television attention than other cities because it’s small and far from New York and Philadelphia. News 12 has to cover the state. The responsibility for keeping attention on unsolved murders in Asbury Park falls then on the Asbury Park Press.

Regarding Asbury Park killings, we’ve seen the Monmouth County prosecutor blame the city police, the county prosecutor make no progress himself and everyone blame the City Council. It was announced last week that state troopers will patrol the city, but car patrols lend themselves mostly to traffic tickets.

Left out of the conversation thus far is a very important crime fighter — U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman. He is a well-schooled, honorable lawyer who has spent his career fighting crime, including a concentration on illegal narcotics, the antecedent problem that leads to gangs and murder.

Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie built a legacy of putting corrupt politicians in jail. Former U.S. Attorney Rudy Giuliani prosecuted organized crime. Fishman can have a more honorable distinction than both of them — saving young lives and removing fear from a community.

Nationwide, the U.S. Attorney’s office has a nearly $2 billion budget, and New Jersey’s district is the fifth largest in America, with 145 lawyers and support staff. Fishman has resources. More importantly, he wields an effective crime-fighting law: The Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organizations statute (RICO).

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18 Year Old Long Branch Man Charged With Murder

Dante Strong, top right. photo from Strong’s facebook page

Dante Strong, 18, of Long Branch was charged with the murder of Adrian Anderson, 23, also of Long Branch,  yesterday according to a statement released by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Officers from the Long Branch Police Department were in the area of Central Avenue and Liberty Street in Long Branch around 2:29 a.m. on September 21, 2013, when they heard gunshots.  Officers responding to the sounds of gunfire and were flagged down by several people at 135 Liberty Street, where they found the victim on the front porch, unconscious and bleeding from several gunshot wounds.  The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune Township, where he was pronounced dead at 5:22 a.m., despite the efforts made to save his life by medical personnel.

A joint investigation was launched by the Long Branch Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.  During the course of the investigation, Strong was linked to an armed robbery the morning prior to the shooting, near the intersection of Central Avenue and Ellis Avenue in Long Branch, less than one block from where the victim was killed.

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Toms River Man Wanted For Sandy Fraud

Brian Nogiewich. Photo via Monmouth Co Prosecutors Office

Judge Joseph W. Oxley issued an arrest warrant for Brian Nogiewich, 54, of Toms River, today when Nogiewich failed to surrender to the Monmouth County Super Storm Sandy Fraud Task Force.

Nogiewich is charged with Theft for failing to deliver natural gas powered electrical generators to customers who paid him for them in the wake of Super Storm Sandy, according to a statement from Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The joint investigation by members of the Monmouth County Superstorm Sandy Fraud Task Force, including the FBI, revealed that Nogiewich accepted payments from two Monmouth County residents in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, but failed to either deliver the natural gas-powered generators or refund his customers’ money. One victim paid Nogiewich a deposit of just under $3,000, while the second victim paid him more than $4,700 for the power plant. Neither victim has received a generator or a refund.

The investigation further revealed an application by Nogiewich to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs for a Home Improvement Contractor Registration Number contained false information.

Nogiewich is charged with two counts of third degree Theft by Deception and one count of fourth degree Failure to Register with Division of Consumer Affairs.

Nogiewich has continued to evade authorities since failing to surrender after telling investigators he was in the State of Delaware and would return to New Jersey.  Additional information has led investigators to believe he may also be in Upstate New York.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Nogiewich is urged to call Detective Elethia Baldwin, of this Office at 732-431-7160 ext. 6349 or toll-free at 1-800-533-7443.

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ASBURY PARK MAN CHARGED WITH AUGUST MURDER

NJ Department of Corrections photo

Bryan Burford, 21, of Asbury Park was arrested today and charged with the August 16 murder of Tyrell Howard, 20, also of Asbury Park, according to a statement from Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramicconi.

Burford was also charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose.  He is being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution. Judge Joseph Oxley set Burford’s bail at $1 million with 10% cash option.

Burford was convicted of Aggravated Assault in April of 2011.  He was released from the Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility on May 23 of this year, according to the NJ Department of Corrections.

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