Day: August 13, 2021

Ocean County, Tuckerton

New Haven, CT Man Pleads Guilty For Attempted Murder And Hindering Apprehension After Shooting At Police Officer In Tuckerton Borough In 2019

August 13, 2021

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on August 13, 2021, Miguel Angel-Villegas, 31, of New Haven, Connecticut, pled guilty to Attempted Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-1 and N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1), as well as Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3b(4), before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, J.S.C., relative to a shooting incident that occurred in Tuckerton on November 21, 2019.  At the time of his sentencing on September 27, 2021, the State will recommend a term of fifteen years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) as to the Attempted Murder charge, subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-7.2, and five years NJSP as to the Hindering charge.  The sentences are to run concurrently.

On November 21, 2019, a Tuckerton Borough Police Officer performed a lawful stop on a motor vehicle in which Angel-Villegas was a passenger.  During the course of the stop, the vehicle pulled away at a very high rate of speed and collided with another vehicle.  Angel-Villegas exited the vehicle, pulled out a firearm and began firing at the Officer.  Angel-Villegas subsequently fled on foot and was apprehended later the same evening by the United States Marshals Service and members of the New York City Police Department – just outside of Penn Station, New York City.  A subsequent investigation by Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit revealed that Angel-Villegas ordered his then-girlfriend – the driver of the vehicle – to provide the Tuckerton Police Officer with a fictitious name due to his belief that he was wanted on a parole violation out of the State of Connecticut, and then forced her to speed away from the Officer during the motor vehicle stop.  

Villegas has been lodged in the Ocean County Jail since his return to New Jersey.

Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Chief Trial Attorney Michael Weatherstone and Assistant Prosecutor Victoria Veni who handled the case on behalf of the State, as well as the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, United States Marshals Service, New York City Police Department, Tuckerton Borough Police Department, Little Egg Harbor Police Department, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations Intelligence Center, New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, New Jersey Transit Police, Ocean County Regional SWAT Team, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, New Haven (Connecticut) Police, Port Authority Police, Tuckerton Fire Department, and Tuckerton Public Works Department, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation, ultimately resulting in Villegas’ apprehension, guilty plea, and soon his state prison sentence.

Midjersey.news file photos of the scene.
MidJersey.News file photos of the scene.
Burlington, Westampton

18-Year-Old Man Faces Attempted Murder Charge For Westampton Hotel Stabbing

August 13, 2021

WESTAMPTON, NJ (BURLINGTON)–Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Westampton Township Police Chief Stephen Ent announced that an 18-year-old Pemberton Township resident has been charged with trying to fatally stab a man at a Westampton hotel last week.

Michael Warder, of the 400 block of Salvia Street, was charged with Attempted Murder (First Degree), Aggravated Assault (Third Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Third Degree) and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Fourth Degree).

He was lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending a detention hearing next week. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.

The investigation began August 7 when Westampton Township police officers were dispatched to a hotel in the 2000 block of Burlington-Mount Holly Road for a report of a stabbing.

Upon arrival, officers discovered an adult male who was bleeding heavily from multiple stab wounds to his abdomen and arms. The victim was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital and underwent emergency surgery. He remains hospitalized but is expected to survive.

The investigation revealed the defendant became upset upon learning his ex-girlfriend might be in a new relationship. He rode his bicycle to the hotel and confronted her and the victim outside of the building. Upon seeing Warder, she ran inside the hotel and was not injured.

When the assault was over, Warder fled on his bicycle. He was apprehended August 10 at his current girlfriend’s home in Marlton by the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department Fugitive Unit.

The investigation was conducted by the Westampton Township Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office. The lead investigators are WTPD Detective Sgt. Linda Chieffalo and BCPO Detective Kevin Sobotka.

All persons are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

2021-71 Westampton Township Attempted Murder

Jackson, Ocean County

Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash Investigation In Jackson Township

August 13, 2021

JACKSON, NJ (OCEAN)–On Thursday August 12, 2021 at 4:49 pm, officers responded to Toms River Road near the Ocean County Vo-Tech School on the report of a head on motor vehicle crash with injuries.

Upon arrival responding officers discovered a 2 car motor vehicle crash in the roadway which required a road closure and detour. Initial investigation revealed that a 2011 Nissan which was operated by a 51 year old male and travelling southbound, swerved abruptly into the oncoming lane of traffic for unknown reasons and collided with a 2021 Audi travelling northbound which was operated by a 45 year old male.

The 51 year old male operator of the Nissan was pronounced at the scene and officers also discovered that a dog which had been in his vehicle was fatally injured in the crash. The driver of the Audi was treated for minor injuries.

The investigation is currently ongoing and is being led by Police Officer Tristan Bennett. Anyone who may have more information about this incident is asked to contact him at 732-928-1111.

Bordentown Twp, Burlington, Burlington City, Maple Shade

7 Arrested In Burlington County On Child Pornography Charges

5 Adults And 2 Juveniles Busted

August 13, 2021

MOUNT HOLLY, NJ (BURLINGTON)–Yesterday, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that seven Burlington County residents have been arrested since mid-July on charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography, which is now more commonly referred to as child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The investigations, conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit, led to charges against the following individuals:

  • Matthew Reiss, 38, of Maple Shade, charged July 16 with Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Third Degree). He is accused of downloading child sexual abuse material from a website in another country. The lead investigator was Evesham Township Detective Christopher DeFrancesco, who is presently assigned as a Task Force Officer with the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit.
  • Daksh Patel, 25, of Maple Shade, charged July 29 with two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Second Degree and Third Degree). He is accused of uploading CSAM videos. The lead investigator was United States Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Jennifer Miller, who is presently assigned as a Task Force Officer with the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit.
  • Jamie Adamson, 50, of Burlington City, charged August 2 with Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Third Degree). He is accused of uploading images of child sexual abuse material. The lead investigator was BCPO Det. Jennifer Appelmann.
  • Daniel Ricci, 45, of Medford, charged August 5 with Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Second Degree). He is accused of downloading and viewing child sexual abuse material. The lead investigator was BPCO Det. Andrew Ridolfi.
  • Dexter Manansala, 55, of Bordentown Township, charged August 6 with three counts of  Endangering the Welfare of a Child (two Second Degree and one Third Degree). He is accused of using Facebook to distribute child sexual abuse material. The lead investigator was BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit Sgt. Dave Kohler.

The names of two defendants are being withheld because they are juveniles. The adult offenders were released from custody following first appearances in Superior Court.

They join a growing list of people apprehended for similar crimes.

Over a 12-month period ending in May, 46 people were arrested on CSAM-related charges as part of the BCPO’s Operation Safe Quarantine, which pursued those engaged in the online exploitation of children.

Prosecutor Coffina noted that the charges announced today were not part of any special operation.

“These arrests were the result of investigators doing their jobs day in, day out,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “The pervasiveness of this criminal behavior is sickening and concerning, and catching these offenders remains a priority for our Office and our law enforcement partners.”

The investigations involved the assistance of the Bordentown Township Police Department, the City of Burlington Police Department, the Evesham Township Police Department, the Maple Shade Police Department, the Medford Township Police Department, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and United States Homeland Security Investigations – Cherry Hill Office.

The cases are being prepared for presentation to a grand jury by Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Weiler.

The Prosecutor’s Office High-Tech Crimes Unit and HSI – Cherry Hill are members of the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The BCPO also belongs to the New Jersey State Police Cyber Terrorism Task Force.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The names of two defendants are being withheld because they are juveniles. The adult offenders were released from custody following first appearances in Superior Court.