Freehold Man Admits Strangling His Pregnant Girlfriend

Sender Neftali Villatoro-Reyes, 27, of Freehold Borough, pleaded guilty on Friday to first degree Aggravated Manslaughter for the May 16, 2014 strangulation death of Lucenay Fermin Gallegos in their borough home, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Fermin Gallegos, who was 30 years old at the time of her death, was five months pregnant.

Villatoro-Reyes called 911 at about 2:15 a.m. on May 16, 2014 and reported that he killed his girlfriend.  Freehold Borough police officers responded to the couple’s 51 Hudson Street home where they found Fermin Gallegos dead on the couch.  She was pronounced dead at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center at 3:27 a.m., according to Gramiccioni’s announcement.  Middlesex County Medical Examiner Diane Karluk ruled the cause of death as asphyxia due to manual strangulation following an autopsy performed the same day.

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Sheriff’s Officers Equipped with Body Worn Cameras

photo via Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office

The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Officers deployed in the criminal fugitive warrants section of the Law Enforcement Division were equipped with body worn cameras, effective today, Sheriff Shaun Golden announced.  The Sheriff’s Office joins 17 other law enforcement agencies throughout Monmouth County that are equipped with the cameras purchased through a grant from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Department of Law and Public Safety and administered by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

“These body worn cameras will build upon the public trust that sheriff’s officers and our partners in law enforcement have in communities, and, enhance the safety of the residents we serve throughout Monmouth County,” said Sheriff Golden. “In addition to the BWC’s being able to hold all accountable at a scene, they can also help capture quality evidence, recognize officer behavior and decrease complaints filed against members of law enforcement.”

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Law Enforcement to open conversation with community

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Monmouth County Police Chiefs Association, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, will open a dialogue with clergy, community leaders, youth groups, high school students Saturday, January 14, 10 a.m., at the Pilgrim Baptist Church of Red Bank, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced this morning.

The “Community & Law Enforcement Conversation Seminar” is sponsored by the participating law enforcement agencies as well as by the Social Justice Ministry of Pilgrim Baptist Church and Citizens for A Diverse & Open Society.

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Greg’s List: Things to do in Monmouth County this weekend, January 13-15, 2017

By Greg Kelly

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Friday, January 13

• The Jag by NJ Repertory Company (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• “Ice at the Pier” (Long Branch) – MORE INFO
• Radio Technology Museum Open at InfoAge (Wall Twp.) – MORE INFO
• Live Harness Racing (Freehold) – MORE INFO
• Atlantic Cinemas Movie Night (Atlantic Highlands) – MORE INFO
• “SHINE: 100 Women of Long Branch” Photo Exhibit – MORE INFO
• Songwriting Workshop (Middletown) – MORE INFO
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Service (Tinton Falls) – MORE INFO
• Decade: A Tribute to Neil Young (Red Bank) – MORE INFO

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Traffic Safety Enhanced in Tinton Falls

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Public safety will be enhanced and traffic will flow easier on Asbury Ave between Garden State Parkway exit 102 and Shafto Road in Tinton Falls thanks to a new traffic signal that was activated yesterday by Freeholders Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso and employees of the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering.

“Monmouth County’s first traffic improvement for 2017 is the activation of the traffic signal on Asbury Avenue at Fox Chase and Cannonball Drive,” said Freeholder Arnone. “The signal will improve overall safety for motorists and pedestrians while allowing for better traffic flow and operational efficiency at the intersection. We appreciate the support and patience of local residents and the Tinton Falls officials as we worked to improve public safety in the area.”

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Atlantic Highlands Councilman Will Not Run For Assembly

Councilman Peter Doyle has his eye on DiMaso’s Freeholder seat

Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle

The entrance of Monmouth County Freeholder Serena DiMaso and Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger into the race for the GOP nominations for the Assembly seats currently held by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon has prompted one rumored candidate to declare that he is not running for Assembly and to express his interest in DiMaso’s seat on the Freeholder Board should she elected to the legislature on November 7.

Atlantic Highlands Councilman Peter Doyle released this following statement this afternoon:

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LD 13 Assembly Race Draws A Crowd As Scharfenberger Jumps In

Monmouth County Freeholder Serena DiMaso and Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger could be running mates for Assembly this fall.

Suddenly there is a race for the 13th District Assembly seats currently held by Assembly Members Declan O’Scanlon and Amy Handlin.

Middletown Mayor Gerry Scharfenberger announced his candidacy for Assembly, with a video posted on facebook, just hours after Monmouth County Freeholder Serena DiMaso announced her candidacy via press release this morning.

DiMaso’s and Scharfenberger’s announcements follow Fair Haven Councilman Bob Marchese’s announcement last week and Handlin’s statement last month that she wants to run for reelection to the Assembly should she fail to win the LD 13 State Senate nomination at the yet to be scheduled GOP nominating convention. Handlin said she would abide by the will of the County Committee vote at a convention.

O’Scanlon has maintained that he’s running for Senate and nothing else.

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Serena DiMaso Announces Her Candidacy For Assembly In LD 13

Freeholder Serena DiMaso

Freeholder Serena DiMaso, a resident of Holmdel, announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for State Assembly in the 13th Legislative District this morning in a press release.

LD 13 is located in northern Momouth County. The district is comprised of Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright and Union Beach.

“The retirement of our great State Senator, Joe Kyrillos, has left some big shoes to be filled and those shoes will likely be filled by one of our current Assembly members”, said DiMaso. “After speaking with my campaign team, and having Sheriff Shaun Golden and Freeholder Tom Arnone offer their encouragement and support I have decided to announce my candidacy for the New Jersey State Assembly from the 13^th District.”

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Freeholders Signal Flat Taxes During Monmouth County Reorganization

Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, 2017. Gary Rich Sr, Serena DiMaso, Lillian Burry, John Curley and Tom Arnone

Continuing to reduce the size and cost of government while improving the quality of services and infrastructure was the theme of the day as Monmouth County’s leadership gathered yesterday before a standing room only crowd in the Biotech High School Auditorium in Freehold to reorganize the county government for 2017 and to swear in the victors of the November election.

Freeholders Serena DiMaso and Tom Arnone were each sworn into new three year terms, as was Sheriff Shaun Golden.  Surrogate Rosemarie Peters was sworn into a new five year term.   Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno issued the Oath of Office to DiMaso and Golden.  State Senator Joe Kyrillos administered the Oath for Arnone.  Superior Court Assignment Judge Lisa P. Thorton presided over Peter’s pledge to uphold the Constitutions of the United States of America and New Jersey and perform the duties of her office to the best of her ability.

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Senate President Sweeney Vouches For Gopal’s Outsider Status, Fiscal Conservatism

Senate President Steve Sweeney, right, enjoys a humorous moment with Gov Christie, and South Jersey Dem Boss George Norcross
photo credit: Tim Larsen/Governor’s Office

New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney, the author of over 100 tax increases on NJ citizens, issued a statement earlier this week vouching for the outsider status and fiscal conservatism of Vin Gopal, the former Monmouth Democrat Chairman and a candidate for the Democrat nomination for 11th District State Senate seat in the the June 6 primary.

In addition to Sweeney, Gopal is touting the support of South Jersey Democrat Boss George Norcross and Phil Murphy, President Obama’s former Ambassador to Germany and the candidate for Governor who has already locked up the support of the New Jersey Democrat machine.

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