Smith’s new legislation will fight human trafficking in the hotel industry

Congressman Smith addressed the 9th annual NJ Human Trafficking and Awareness Event on January 25, 2019 in Trenton

Legislation introduced by Congressman Chris Smith on Thursday will require that U.S. government travel business be prioritized to hotels that have strong anti-human trafficking policies in place.

“U.S. government travelers should be staying at hotels that are part of the solution to human trafficking, not part of the problem,” Smith said. “Six of the 10 major hotels chains in the world have taken the initiative to train their staff to recognize and report when human traffickers use their hotels for crime.  These are the hotels that deserve U.S. government business.”

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Neptune Man Arrested for Child Abuse Porn

Anthony McCray, 50, of Neptune Township has been arrested and charged with the possession and distribution of videos that depict the sexual abuse of children, according to an announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

On August 3, 2018, McCray distributed 16 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children via a peer-to-peer file-sharing program – an online connection of computers allowing the sharing of files directly between individual users. On November 18, 2018, McCray distributed an additional 86 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children via a peer-to-peer file-sharing program. On February 21, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at McCray’s residence located additional child pornography.

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McAtasney found guilty in Sarah Stern Murder

Liam McAtasney has been found guilty of all seven counts against his in the December 2016 murder of Sarah Stern, according to an announcement by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office via twitter:

#BREAKING : Liam McAtasney has been found guilty for the 2016 murder of then, 19-year old Sarah Stern. McAtasney was found guilty on all 7 counts. #mcponj

— Monmouth Prosecutor (@MonCoProsecutor) February 26, 2019

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Baroni gets 18 months for Bridgegate conviction

Bill Barnoni, 47, a former NJ State Senator and the former Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of NY/NJ was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison today for his role in the September, 2013 George Washington Bridge lane closure known as Bridgegate, Assistant US Attorney Attorney for the United States Mark Coyne announced.

U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton imposed the sentence in Newark federal court.

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Statement By Paul Caneiro’s Attorneys

Robert A. Honecker, Jr. and Mitchell J. Ansell of Ansell Grimm & Aaron, defense attorneys for Paul Caneiro, issued the following statement regarding his indictment which is handed down by a Monmouth County Grand Jury this morning.

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Giant Puppies For Sale At Green Leaf Pet Resort In Millstone

photo by Madwell via Patch

The Green Leaf Pet Resort in Millstone Township has a litter of 10 Canary Mastiff puppies available for adoption. The Presa Canario pups are the offspring of New York Giant’s wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s  dog, Eris, according to a report by Carly Baldwin at Patch.

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The Arnone Report: Public Works Keeping Roads Safe, Ongoing Progress At Dump

By Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone

I hope everyone stayed safe and warm during last week’s snow and ice storm. We anticipate more inclement weather this week and as always, the County is prepared for whatever comes our way.

I’d like to thank our department of public works employees for working throughout this recent storm to clear our roads and county-owned properties. As always, these employees did a great job. I’d also like to thank our first responders who were also out working throughout the storm in difficult weather conditions.

It has been a busy and exciting few weeks in the County!

I want to update everyone on our efforts to eliminate the odors being emitted at the Monmouth County Reclamation Center. Last week we installed five vapor system stations. It is important to note that these non-toxic vapors do not mask the odors, but rather neutralize the odors, which is more effective.

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Monmouth Poll: Support for legal weed in NJ is high

62% of New Jersey adults support legalizing marijuana, up from 59% last year, according to a Monmouth University Poll released this morning.

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Frankly Chatting: “I’m Against It”

By Steve Frank

We need the Marx Brothers today. Well, not the Marx Bros. physically – they’re dead. But their brand of humor: silly enough to be laughable but satirical enough to be thought-provoking. Take their movie, Horse Feathers (1932), for example. Their slapstick antics are woven around a clever indictment of the misplaced priorities given to collegiate athletics. In one famous musical number, “I’m Against It”, Professor Wagstaff (Groucho) asserts that “Whatever it is, I’m against it”. “It” being the absurdities of life.

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Arrest Made in Middletown Stabbing

Correction, Feb 19, 2019 10:50 a.m.

Det. Lt. Paul Bailey, the public information officer for the Middletown PD, told MMM that Bland did not stab two people as we previously reported.  One person was stabbed and the other was the victim of a simple assault, Bailey said.

Brennan C. Bland

Brennan C. Bland, 27, has been arrest by Middletown Police and charged with stabbing two people in McMahon Park on Friday afternoon, according to an announcement from the Middletown PD.

Bland is charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, and terroristic threats.   He is in the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institute in Freehold.

A Friday, February 15 at about 4:28 p.m. County dispatch received at least three calls reporting an altercation in McMahon Park in North Middletown.  The first call indicated that two adult males were involved in  fight. A second call reported juveniles fighting and a third caller stated the incident involved a stabbing and all parties had left the scene.

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