TOMS RIVER, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that yesterday, May 15, 2023, Matthew Robles, 32, of Lakewood, pled guilty before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., to Distribution of Child Pornography and Failure to Register as a Megan’s Law Offender. At the time of his sentencing the State will be recommending a term of seven years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) with a five year period of parole ineligibility, as to the Child Pornography Distribution charge. The State will also be recommending a term of three years in NJSP, as to the Failure to Register as a Megan’s Law Offender charge. The sentences would run concurrently.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit revealed that Robles – a Megan’s Law Registrant under the supervision of the New Jersey Division of Parole- has been employed at a local business establishment in Brick Township without registering or notifying any law enforcement agencies. Since 1994, Megan’s Law requires certain offenders to register with their local police departments whenever they move and/or change their residential address or place of employment.
On July 26, 2022, Officers from the Division of Parole conducted a home visit and discovered images of child pornography on Robles’ cellular phone. Robles was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail for various violations of his parole. All of Robles’ electronic devices were seized by law enforcement for forensic examination purposes.
On July 28, 2022, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit executed a court authorized search warrant on Robles’ electronic devices. As a result, Detectives discovered that Robles had been uploading and sharing images of child pornography on the internet by way of the WhatsApp Application. On August 5, 2022, Robles was served with a complaint initially charging him with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. On August 8, 2022, Robles was served with the complaint in connection with the Distribution of Child Pornography charge. Robles is currently lodged in NJSP as a result of the parole violation in connection with these charges. He will remain detained until his sentencing.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Senior Assistant Prosecutor Shanon Chant-Berry and Assistant Prosecutor Natalie Pouch who are handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, New Jersey Division of Parole, and Lakewood Township Police Department, for their collaborative assistance in connection with this investigation leading to Robles’ arrest, guilty pleas and soon his state prison sentence.
TOMS RIVER, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force collaborated with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration – High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Group 5, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Lakewood Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit, South Toms River Police Department, South Toms River Police Department K-9 Unit, Brick Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Eatontown Borough Police Department, Howell Township Police Department K-9 Unit, City of Long Branch Police Department Street Crimes Unit and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office to conduct an investigation into the distribution of cocaine in the Ocean County and Monmouth County areas. This cooperative, multi-agency investigation identified a residence in South Toms River and a residence in Brick Township, as being utilized by Octavaeous Jenkins, 49, to store and distribute cocaine. Additionally, the investigation identified a residence in Long Branch, as being utilized by Ralph Durand, 56, Krystal Villano, 36, Emily Durand, 53 and Jaiden Durand, 18, to store and distribute cocaine.
Detectives from the aforementioned law enforcement agencies initiated surveillance on the subject residences in South Toms River, Brick Township and Long Branch. On May 9, 2023, Detectives observed Jenkins meeting with Durand in Monmouth County. Jenkins and Durand were detained and found to be in possession of approximately one kilogram of cocaine. Jenkins and Durand were thereafter placed under arrest.
Multiple court-authorized search warrants were then executed on all of the subject residences. As a result, law enforcement seized – in combination from all three residences – approximately 1.25 kilograms of cocaine, $56,000 in United States currency, twenty grams of crack cocaine and fifty dosage units of heroin. Emily Durand, Jaiden Durand and Krystal Villano were placed under arrest at the residence in Long Branch. Additionally, Detectives seized approximately seized $488,522 in personal banking accounts belonging to Ralph Durand and Krystal Villano, believed to be related to their narcotics distribution network.
Octavaeous Jenkins was charged with Distribution of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine, Possession of More than One-Half Ounce but Less than Five Ounces of Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Less than One-Half Ounce of Heroin with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Heroin, Conspiracy to Possess More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute and Financial Facilitation. Jenkins was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Ralph Durand was charged with Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of a Public Library, Possession of Cocaine, Conspiracy to Possess More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Financial Facilitation. Durand was transported to the Monmouth County Jail, where he is currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
Krystal Villano was charged with Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of a Public Library, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Financial Facilitation. Villano was served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Jaiden Durand was charged with Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of a Public Library, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Financial Facilitation. Villano was served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Emily Durand was charged with Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of More than Five Ounces of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of a Public Library, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Financial Facilitation. Villano was served with the charges via summons pending an upcoming first appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit, United States Drug Enforcement Administration-High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Group 5, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Lakewood Township Police Department, Lakewood Township Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department K-9 Unit, South Toms River Police Department, South Toms River Police Department K-9 Unit, Brick Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Eatontown Borough Police Department, Howell Township Police Department K-9 Unit, City of Long Branch Police Department Street Crimes Unit and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
EAST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP. Mayor Janice S. Mironov announced East Windsor Township is participating in the “Trex Plastic Film Challenge,” enabling Township residents to recycle plastic film products. Residents are encouraged to collect and recycle plastic bags and film, which can now be dropped off at the Public Works Facility on Ward Street & Etra Road and during East Windsor Township Recycling Days (next event, Wednesday, July 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.). The types of plastic film which can be dropped off for recycling are: grocery bags, bread bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, plastic shipping envelopes, Ziplock and other re-closable food storage bags, cereal bags, case overwrap, salt bags, pallet wrap and stretch film, wood pellet bags and produce bags.
Trex manufactures composite decking and railing from recycled plastics it reclaims from these collected grocery bags and other plastic film. To capture more bags and plastic film, Trex sponsors an annual challenge program rewarding groups who collect more than 500 pounds of plastics within six months with a free bench.
Mayor Mironov stated, “Plastics do not fully decompose but break down into smaller and smaller pieces, so these microplastics pose a huge risk to wildlife and are extremely difficult to clean up. Recycling plastic bags and film reduces harmful plastic pollution from littering our community, wildlife habitats and green spaces. The Trex Challenge is a creative way to eliminate grocery bags and other plastic film from our waste stream, which need to be separated from the curbside recycling program as they can damage the mechanical equipment used during the recycling process. Designating our Public Works Facility on Ward Street & Etra Road as a drop-off site enables residents to participate in the challenge.”
“East Windsor Township continues to be a leader in recycling and last year, more than 14,000 tons of recyclables were collected in the Township, and this initiative expands those efforts.” Mayor Mironov continued, “Not only is recycling plastic film beneficial for the environment, but it saves taxpayers money by helping to reduce landfill tipping fees.”
Oceanfront Lifeguards on Duty Starting This Weekend, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Operational at Multiple State Parks, Forests
May 23, 2023
TRENTON – As summer approaches, the State Park Service is ready to kick off the season with lifeguards on duty during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend at Island Beach State Park, picnic areas ready for families and friends to gather, and electric vehicle charging stations available at several state parks and forests, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced today.
Island Beach State Park will be the first location to have lifeguards on duty for the holiday weekend, and each weekend throughout June before opening for daily hours on June 19. Staggered openings are planned throughout June for swimming areas at other state parks and forests. In addition, the State Park Service has increased the number of electric vehicles charging stations at its properties and continues hiring people for a variety of seasonal positions.
“New Jersey’s state parks and forests are an excellent choice for a few hours of relaxation, a day off or a vacation,” Commissioner LaTourette said. “It’s going to be a great summer and we look forward to being the public’s destination for swimming, picnicking, hiking or just quietly taking in the beauty of nature.”
Governor Phil Murphy has proposed a second year of free entrance to state parks, forests and historic sites in the FY24 budget, which is under review by the New Jersey Legislature.
Swimming Areas
Lifeguards at Island Beach State Park will be on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 27 through Monday, May 29, and then each Saturday and Sunday following until June 19, when lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Labor Day, Sept. 4. Lakefront swim areas will open on staggered dates in mid-June.
To make state parks, forests and recreation areas more welcoming to visitors with electric vehicles, 10 Level 2 charging stations are located on state park grounds across the state.
Two charging stations are in place and operational at Cheesequake State Park (Middlesex County), High Point State Park (Sussex County), Round Valley Recreation Area (Hunterdon County), Wawayanda State Park (Sussex and Passaic counties), and Wharton State Forest – Batsto Village (Burlington County). All charging stations are in the parks’ swimming areas, except at Wharton State Forest.
“The tourism economy, outdoor recreation and public lands are vital to New Jersey, and our state parks, forests and historic sites are ready to welcome the public,” saidAssistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic SitesJohn Cecil. “We recognize the importance of having the necessary amenities for people, including the ability to charge electric vehicles and swim under the watchful eye of a lifeguard. Take some time and come enjoy a day at the park, in the forest or stepping back in time at a historic site.”
A $45,000 grant from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities awarded in March 2022 helped fund the 10 electric vehicle chargers. Additionally, a July 2022 BPU grant included $150,000 for two DC fast chargers that will be installed at a later date at Liberty State Park in Hudson County.
Summer Jobs
Lifeguard positions continue to be available at swimming areas across the state, with salaries starting at $17.50 per hour. Oceanfront guards at Island Beach State Park start at $18.50 per hour.
While prior experience is not necessary, candidates must pass running and swim tests prior to employment. The State Park Service will train lifeguards in cardiopulmonary resuscitation/Automated External Defibrillator use, first aid and other medical matters. Each lifeguard will also receive a U.S. Lifesaving Association certification.
Lifeguard opportunities are available at High Point, Hopatcong, Swartswood and Wawayanda state parks in the northern part of the state; Cheesequake State Park and Round Valley Recreation Area in the central region; and Island Beach State Park, Atsion Recreation Area (Wharton State Forest), Parvin State Park and Belleplain state forests in the south. The State Park Service is also hiring lifeguards for Bass River State Forest to begin all required training and certifications in anticipation of a possible late summer opening.
After a successful pilot run in 2022, the State Park Service will continue expanding its aquatics program by hiring Junior Lifeguards at least 15 years old, at $16 per hour. While junior lifeguards cannot perform lifeguard duties for the public until age 16, the position provides a training head start for when they are able to provide full lifeguard duties.
Additional seasonal job opportunities with the State Park Service include general maintenance, naturalists and history educators, visitor services and office assistants. These positions start at $15 per hour and the hourly rate will increase with experience.
The State Park Service manages more than 453,000 acres of land, including 40 state parks, 11 state forests, three recreation areas and more than 50 historic sites and districts.
Trenton, N.J. — Trenton Water Works (TWW) will begin the demolition of two buildings at 942 Prospect Street near the 124-year-old Pennington Avenue Reservoir to prepare the site for constructing two 8-million-gallon concrete storage tanks in the spring of 2024.
“We’ve given the contractor the green light to remove any hazardous material and demolish the buildings on the site,” said Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. “We anticipate that it will take three months for the site to be completely cleared and readied for the next phase of the water utility’s storage and distribution system improvements project.”
IBN Construction Corporation is undertaking the $520,000 hazardous material cleanup and demolition of the two 25,000 and 13,000 square-foot buildings on the 2-acre site, with technical guidance and project oversight from engineering firm Barton & Loguidice. The work, awarded through public bidding, will take approximately three months to complete.
Demolition and preparation of the site at 942 Prospect Street is Phase 1 of TWW’s $44-million Storage and Distribution System Improvements Project launched in 2020. The project aims to decentralize and protect treated drinking water produced by the water-filtration plant on Route 29 South in Trenton, ultimately retire the open-air Pennington Avenue Reservoir, and improve system resiliency.
Recently, Trenton City Council approved a resolution for TWW to engage a consultant to assist in developing a comprehensive plan to strengthen the management of the 124-year-old reservoir. Scientists from Princeton Hydro, a Trenton-based engineering firm, work with TWW to achieve this goal.
The storage-and-distribution-system improvements are part of Trenton Water Works’ six-year, $405 million capital plan to modernize the TWW system. This work includes the removal of lead infrastructure through TWW’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program (LSLRP), which recently received a $5.3 million grant to replace lead services with safer copper lines in parts of South Trenton. Since the LSLRP’s inception in 2019, TWW has removed nearly 10,000 lead services from its water distribution system and private homes in Trenton, Hamilton Township, Ewing Township, and Lawrence Township.
In recent years, TWW has completed several multimillion-dollar capital projects designed to improve system performance, resiliency, and water quality. These include replacing the water-filtration plant’s 24 dual-media filters, chlorine contact basins, and raw-water intake, and upgrading the control system. In its water-distribution system, TWW has cleaned and lined water mains in Ewing and Hamilton Townships and is preparing to replace 1.5 miles of water main on Olden Avenue in Ewing Township.
Also, TWW is advancing its $20 million smart meter project, replacing thousands of 25-year-old meters with water meters that meter readers can read remotely. In addition to modernizing water meters, this work will help the water utility improve billing data collection and efficiency.
To maintain high chlorine levels in its water distribution to mitigate the growth of pathogens, including Legionella, TWW will install flushing devices systemwide in targeted areas over the next 12 months. These devices will flush water mains to improve water quality, a $1.2 million project. TWW is working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to determine permanent locations for installing the flushers. Last October, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora’s administration signed a Unilateral Administrative Order with the NJDEP to assist the water utility with its work to improve water quality, advance capital projects, and increase operational performance.
“We are advancing our significant plans to improve water quality, undertake millions in capital work, improve operations, and train our dedicated workforce in order to benefit our customers and service-area residents and optimize the operation of one of America’s oldest public water systems,” added Mayor Gusciora.
Purchased by the City of Trenton in 1859, Trenton Water Works (TWW) is one of the oldest and largest publicly owned water systems in the United States. TWW supplies approximately 28 million gallons of water per day to a quarter-million consumers in a five-municipality service area comprised of Trenton, Ewing Township, parts of Hamilton Township, Lawrence Township, and Hopewell Township. TWW operates a 60-million-gallon water-filtration plant and water-distribution system that consists of a 100-million-gallon reservoir, 683 miles of water mains, three pump stations, nearly 8,000 valves, 3,517 fire hydrants, and six interconnections between TWW and other water suppliers. TWW serves approximately 63,000 metered customers.
Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, determined that students had viewed the pornographic images by accessing Banner’s public Twitter profile. Further investigation revealed that the photographs were taken in his classroom at Toms River Intermediate North. During the course of the investigation, Detectives also discovered that Banner sent inappropriate photographs of himself to a student via Snapchat in October of 2022. Detectives also recovered numerous images of Banner engaging in sexual conduct with himself in his classroom at Toms River Intermediate North.
May 23, 2023
TOMS RIVER, NJ (OCEAN)–Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on May 23, 2023, Kyle Banner, 48, of Brick Township, was charged with Official Misconduct and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
On April 23, 2023, administrators at Toms River Intermediate North were alerted that Banner, a teacher at both Toms River Intermediate North and Ocean County College, posted pornographic photographs of himself to his public Twitter profile. On April 24, 2023, Banner was suspended from his teaching position without pay.
A thorough investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, determined that students had viewed the pornographic images by accessing Banner’s public Twitter profile. Further investigation revealed that the photographs were taken in his classroom at Toms River Intermediate North. During the course of the investigation, Detectives also discovered that Banner sent inappropriate photographs of himself to a student via Snapchat in October of 2022. Detectives also recovered numerous images of Banner engaging in sexual conduct with himself in his classroom at Toms River Intermediate North.
On May 23, 2023, Banner surrendered himself to the Toms River Township Police Department. He was processed and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is currently lodged pending a detention hearing.
“I would encourage parents to have a conversation with their children if they had this defendant as a teacher. If anyone has additional information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Graham Borg of the Toms River Township Police Department at 732- 349-0150, or Detective Stephanie Bayha of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-929-2027, extension 3861,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.
The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
TOMS RIVER, NJ (OCEAN)–On Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at approximately 12:30 p.m., police units were dispatched to the intersection of Route 37 and Hooper Avenue for a reported motor vehicle accident. The initial investigation revealed Daniella Ippolitto, 36 of Toms River, was travelling westbound on Route 37 at a high rate of speed when she lost control of her SUV while changing lanes, and crashed into a vehicle that was stopped for the red light at the intersection; and ultimately a traffic signal, causing it to fall into the roadway, forcing the closure of one lane eastbound on Route 37.
The sole occupant of the stopped vehicle, a 19-year-old male, suffered minor injuries. Ms. Ippolitto was transported to Community Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. She received citations for careless driving, failure to maintain lane, failure to keep right, and reckless driving. The accident remains under investigation by Toms River Traffic Safety Officer Ryan Fitzgerald.
“The Goldman Act empowered the State Department to seek the return of American children, yet the Department has never used the full range of tools as Congress intended,” said Smith, who authored the law to push the State Department and give them the tools to combat international child abductions.
“With hundreds of American children—American citizens—still missing, it seems unconscionable that the State Department continues to limit its actions to bring them home,” said Smith, who cited the annual reports required by the Goldman Act that show more than 13,000 American children have been abducted abroad by a parent since 2008.
Chaired by Smith, the House Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations Subcommittee hearing—which comes ahead of Thursday’s commemoration of National Missing Children’s Day—included testimony from Michelle Bernier-Toth, the US State Department’s Special Advisor for Children’s Issues.
Bernier-Toth acknowledged that the Goldman Act gave the State Department stronger tools to bring children home—including withholding US assistance to foreign governments and invoking sanctions—but said these actions “could undermine efforts in other areas,” essentially placing other interests over returning American children to the United States.
The hearing also included compelling and heart-wrenching testimony from two parents—Jeffery Morehouse and Dr. Noelle Hunter—who have endured years apart from their children, as well as Patricia Apy—the prominent international family law attorney from Red Bank, New Jersey, whose critical work to help reunite David Goldman with his son Sean in the high-profile abduction case informed Smith’s drafting of the Goldman Act.
“The Goldman Act was signed into law nine years ago in August 2014,” said Jeffery Morehouse, the Executive Director of Bring Abducted Children Home, who has been fighting to get his son Mochi back from Japan since 2010. “Since then, there have been at least 10 hearings to get the State Department on board with holding foreign governments accountable and increasing reunifications and returns. They have demonstrated through three administrations little commitment to do so.”
Hunter—who was reunited with her daughter Muna after she was abducted to Mali for three years—echoed Morehouse’s concerns over the State Department’s implementation of the Goldman Act: “Over the past nine years, even our most measured expectations for the State Department to fulfill its mandates have been disappointed. Instead, our children remain kidnapped to foreign nations, separated from their seeking parents and extended families, and parents remain on the treadmill–driven by love for their children, and a hope that our government will be true to what it says it will do for both.”
“The Goldman Act empowers those within our government, our judicial officers, our law enforcement officers, our officers of Homeland Security, as well as all those addressing child abduction throughout our country, on the state and local levels, to have the tools necessary to prevent child abduction and restore those children wrongfully removed and retained, to their homes,” said Patricia Apy.
“It’s time for resolute action by our government to bring these children home,” Hunter said.
Good morning. This hearing of the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations will come to order.
This week we will commemorate National Missing Children’s Day – and we will remember the families that have been torn apart by the crime of international parental child abduction. This crime affects hundreds of American families every year. I want to thank the left- behind parents that are with us today and send a message to all the left-behind families across our nation – we will never stop working to bring abducted children home.
Today we will hear testimony about the devastating impact of international parental child abduction on families and children, and we will examine what more the U.S. Government can do to prevent and address this terrible crime. We will hear from parents who have personally experienced the heartbreaking pain of being separated from their children. They know all too well the financial, legal, cultural, and linguistic challenges to bringing children home from a foreign country. Mr. Morehouse, Dr. Hunter – thank you for being here today to speak on behalf of American families who have sought, or are still seeking, the return of their children and for sharing your expertise.
And I want to thank Patricia Apy for joining us today, an expert on this issue and the brilliant lawyer who represented David Goldman in the fight to bring back his son Sean from Brazil. Thankfully, Sean came home after five years – but many children are lost for much longer, if they ever come home at all. Ms. Apy testified at the first hearing I held on international parental child abduction back in 2009, and I’m grateful to her for joining us again.
We must remember that child abduction is child abuse, and it has devastating emotional, psychological, and even physical consequences for both abducted children and their families left behind. These are American citizens, looking to their government for help when legal processes are unavailable or have failed.
And so we will also discuss the State Department’s progress on implementing the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014, which I authored to provide the executive branch with the necessary tools to address the problem of IPCA. The Goldman Act empowered the State Department to seek the return of American children – yet the Department has never used the full range of tools as Congress intended. I
look forward to hearing from the State Department’s Special Advisor on Children’s Issues, Michelle Bernier-Toth, about how the Department is working to urge other countries to comply with their responsibilities and get American children back home.
Since the Goldman Act was enacted, there has been a decline in the number of American children abducted overseas – which is good news – but sadly the rate of return of children to American parents has worsened. In the State Department’s latest annual Report on International Child Abduction, as required by the Act, it states that in 2022 the Office of
Children’s Issues handled a total of 657 active abduction cases involving 863 children – and 216 of these cases were opened just last year. It also states that 118 cases were resolved in 2022, which resulted in the return of 165 abducted children to the United States. I urge the State Department to use all the tools at its disposal to bring the remaining abducted children home – tools provided by Congress for that purpose.
The State Department’s annual report also names specific countries that are found to demonstrate a pattern of noncompliance with their responsibilities to address cases of international parental child abduction under the Hague Convention. The most recent report names 14 countries as demonstrating a pattern of noncompliance – and 6 of them have been on the list since the first report was published in 2015: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Jordan, and Peru.
The Goldman Act provides the State Department with powerful tools to advocate for abducted American children and urge countries to comply with their Hague Convention obligations. It specifically lists increasingly escalating actions, from a demarche to a public condemnation to a delay or cancellation of one or more bilateral visits to extradition.
Appropriations language since FY21 has authorized the Secretary to withhold certain bilateral assistance funds for the central governments of countries that the Secretary determines are not taking appropriate steps to comply with the Hague Convention – but to date it does not appear that ANY funds have been withheld.
With hundreds of American children – American citizens – still missing, it seems unconscionable that the State Department continues to limit its actions to diplomatic demarches.
The State Department is also authorized under the Goldman Act to pursue bilateral agreements with countries that are unlikely to become Hague Convention parties or that have unresolved pre-Convention abduction cases. I want to ask the Department – why are there not more MOUs with these countries? Why are we not pursuing more supplemental bilateral agreements with countries like Japan?
Japan has a truly disturbing track record on these cases – even though it has not been
listed as “noncompliant” in recent State Department reports. There have been more than 500
U.S. children kidnapped to Japan since 1994, which is when the U.S. Government started tracking it. Yet Japan has made very little progress on them, especially the cases that pre-date Japan’s signing of the Hague Convention in 2014.
And there has been slow progress in changing its single-parent custody laws. Parents like Jeffery Morehouse, here with us today, and many others are left waiting for years without action. The State Department must use ALL of the tools at its disposal to finally get this right and push more strongly for returns.
That’s why last year I introduced, and plan to reintroduce this Congress, the Bring Abducted Children Home Amendments Act. This bill will strengthen key aspects of the Goldman Act, such as requiring disaggregated data and increased transparency from the State Department, providing more resources for left-behind families, and increasing federal law enforcement cooperation. Left-behind families have been waiting long enough – as the U.S. Government, we cannot wait any longer to get this right.
I want to thank each of the witnesses again for being here today, and I now recognize Ranking Member Susan Wild for her opening remarks.
Manchester Twp NJ – On Monday, May 22, 2023, at approximately 4:29 p.m., officers from the Manchester Township Police Department responded to Colonial Drive near the intersection of State Highway 37 to investigate a motor vehicle crash involving two vehicles, one of which was a motorcycle, with injuries.
Upon arrival, officers observed a 2006 Honda Gold Wing motorcycle lying on its side in the roadway on Colonial Drive at its intersection with the SH 37 off ramp. A 2013 Chevrolet Equinox was also observed in the roadway, perpendicular to the Honda, with driver side damage and curtain airbag deployment. The investigation revealed that the Honda was travelling north on Colonial Drive, when the Chevrolet entered the roadway in front of the Honda from the SH 37 off ramp. The motorcyclist applied the brakes, and lied the bike on its side, before sliding into the driver’s side of the Chevrolet.
The Honda was being operated by 66-year-old Anthony K. Williams of Lakehurst Borough, who was transported to Community Medical Center via ambulance for treatment and evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries. The Chevrolet was being operated by a 16-year-old under his NJMVC Learner’s Permit, who had no reported injuries. Also occupying the Chevrolet was 40-year-old Sarah J. Jeffers of Manchester Township, who was transported to Community Medical Center via ambulance for treatment and evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries. There were two other juvenile passengers in the Chevrolet who had no reported injuries. The roadway was partially closed during the investigation and cleanup.
Assisting at the scene were members of the Manchester Township Emergency Medical Services, Manchester Township Fire Department, RWJ Paramedics, and Freedom Towing. The investigation into the crash is still ongoing, however, failure to stop and yield to the right of way of all vehicular traffic appears to be a contributing factor. This crash is being investigated by Patrolman Jesse Hoydis of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.
With summer quickly approaching, the warm weather means an increase in motorcycle traffic on our roadways. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month and we would like to remind our motorists to be aware of your surroundings and use extra caution to help keep roads safe for motorcycle riders.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Detective Lieutenant, Nathan Bolognini told MidJersey.news that the Trenton Police Department, Shooting Response Team is investigating a shooting in the first block of Tucker Street this morning. An 18-year-old was found shot in the stomach and transported to the Trauma Center at Captial Health Regional Medical Center where he remains in stable condition. No other information is available at this time.
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