Long Branch Man Arrested in Sunday Murder

Jennifer Pizzuto. photo via facebook

Jennifer A. Pizzuto, 40, of Long Branch was found dead in a second floor bedroom at 140 Rockwell Ave. on Sunday night after Long Branch police responded to a 10:38 p.m. call reporting the discovery of the unresponsive female.

Investigators of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Long Branch Police Department arrested Christopher “Chato” Aparicio-Reyes, 21, and charge him with first degree murder for Pizzuto’s death.  The victim’s body was discovered in Apraicio-Reyes’s apartment.

The manner of death was not disclosed in Acting Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni’s announcement.
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“All Clear” in Freehold Bomb Threat

Authorities have issued an “all clear” after no explosives were found this evening at the AMC Theater complex in the Freehold Raceway Mall, according to a statement issued by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christoper J. Gramiccioni.

A theater employee discovered a note in the men’s room at 5 p.m. which stated there were multiple bombs in the complex set to detonate this evening. Theater management evacuated the building and contacted the Freehold Township Police Department.  K-9 units from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, Middletown and Wall police departments, New Jersey Homeland Security, Freehold Independent Fire Company, and Freehold First Aid responded to assist the FTPD.

The theater was cleared of any explosives at 6:51 p.m.

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Expected Pot Delivery Turns Into Armed Robbery In Atlantic Highlands

Two Atlantic Highlands residents were surprised on Thursday when the the guys they ordered marijuana from pulled a gun and pepper spray, robbed them of $265 and fled the scene.

The victims, who were not named in Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni’s press release, called the Atlantic Highlands Police Department.   The Sea Bright Police Department spotted the robber’s vehicle on Ocean Avenue a short while later and followed the perps into Rumson. The Atlantic Highlands PD arrested the men in Rumson.

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19 Arrested in Monmouth Prostitution Sting

19 people were arrested last weekend on prostitution related charges according to an announcement by Sheriff Shaun Golden.  The arrests occurred in Wall and Hazlet Townships.

The undercover operation was conducted by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hazlet and Wall Township Police Departments.

Twelve females were charged with solicitation of prostitution and seven people were charged with promotion of prostitution. Additional charges included possession of Controlled Dangerous Substances, possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone and possession of a weapon. A total of $5,000 was confiscated.

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Long Branch Parolee Arrested in 2006 Asbury Park Murder

Joey Johnson AKA Davell Reevey

Joey Jomaine Johnson, AKA Davell Reevey, 35, of Long Branch was arrested yesterday by investigators of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Asbury Park Police Department with the assistance of the New Jersey Parole Board for the March 26, 2006 murder of 21-year-old Jakeema Kelly of Asbury Park, according to a statement by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Johnson had been on parole since his October 22, 2015 release from state prison.  He served eight years for his 2007 convictions on drug dealing charges.  He now faces a minimum of 30 years to a maximum of life imprisonment, if convicted in the first degree murder of Kelly.

He is being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold Township, on $1.2 million cash only bail, as set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.  In addition to first degree murder, Johnson is charged with second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and second degree Certain Persons Not to Possess Weapons.

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Indictments issued in 2014 Long Branch Double Murder

Veronica Roach

Joan Colbert

Brian Farmer, 59, the registered sex offender arrested for the double strangulation murders of his cousin Joan Colbert, 62, and her 10 year old foster daughter Veronica Roach in August of 2014, was indicted on six charges by a Monmouth County Grand Jury on November 30th, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The grand jury charged Farmer with first degree Murder for causing the death of Colbert and Roach, one count of first degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, one count of second degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child and two counts of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The Endangering charges are related to Farmer causing or permitting a child to engage in child pornography, for the manufacture of child pornography and for the possession of child pornography.

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Asbury Park man shot by cop charged with attempted murder

ASBURY PARK — A 20-year-old city resident faces attempted murder charges after authorities say he shot at a police officer during a foot pursuit Wednesday night. Dante Allen, who was struck during the gun battle, remains in stable condition at a local hospital, said acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni. He was charged with attempted murder,… Read the rest of this entry »

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Old Bridge Man Arrested in Hazlet Bank Robbery

Stephen Fedorka. photo via facebook

Stephen Fedorka, 33, of the Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge Towship, was arrested on Sunday and charged in the Armed Robbery that occurred at the Santander Bank branch at 2985 Route 35, Hazlet, on Wednesday, October 28, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

The Hazlet Police Department was contacted at approximately 9:46 a.m. on October 28 and responded to the Santander Bank located at 2985 State Highway 35, Hazlet, New Jersey, for a reported robbery. The suspect was described as a white male possibly in his 30’s, approximately 5’9”, wearing dark blue or black sweatshirt and dark colored jeans. The suspect entered the bank and handed a note to a bank teller demanding money and indicating that he possessed a gun. The suspect then fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of United States currency.

An investigation by the Hazlet PD, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI lead to Fedorka’s arrest in Hazlet on Sunday morning.
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Pedophile Gets 12 years

Kevin Motyka. photo via facebook

Kevin Motyka, 24, of Howell Township, was sentenced to 12 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a toddler and electronically recording the act, according to a statement by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Motyka must serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.   He will be subject to the provision of Megan’s Law, Parole Supervision for life and is banned from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18, pursuant to the sentence imposed by Judge Anthony J. Mellaci, Jr.

A tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the arrest of Motyka in February of 2014.

A Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit investigation revealed Motyka sexually assaulted a 2-year-old boy between May and December 2012, and created photographs and video recordings of the attacks. The defendant also distributed child pornography of images that did not include his young victim.

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Long Branch Roommates Busted For Drugs, Weapons

Robert Stohlin, facebook photo

4,000 bags of heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, drug distribution paraphernalia, $8,000 in cash,a .22 caliber handgun, 9mm replica handgun and several knives were seized on Thursday when the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office’s Gang Bureau and the Long Branch Police Street Crimes Unit arrested Robert Strohlin, 46, of 177 West End Ave,  and his roommate Syr Berry, 47, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Strohlin and Berry’s arrests was part of a months-long investigation into illegal drug distribution in Long Branch.

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