Body found in church identified
Friday, November 21, 2008ROCKAWAY: Authorities have identified the man who was found in a church yesterday after authorities notified family members last night, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said.
William Bell, 41, lived just blocks away from the United Methodist Church on Hoagland Avenue, where the pastor discovered the body shortly before 8:48 a.m. in a meeting room.
The man was taken to St. Clare's Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:24 a.m.
"The matter is being treated as a suspicious death," said Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi. "We'll have answers once the investigation is completed."
The investigation is being headed by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office with the Morris County Sheriff's Office and the Rockaway Borough Police Department. Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi is asking anyone with information to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at (973) 285-6200, Rockaway Borough Police Department at (973) 627-1314 or the Morris County Sheriff's Office CrimeStopper Program at (973) COP-CALL (973) 267-2255.
Media Contact: Agent Bill Swayze
Body of man discovered in Rockaway Borough church
Thursday, November 20, 2008ROCKAWAY: Authorities are investigating the death of a wheelchair-bound man who was found in a church today several hours after his mother reported him missing, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said.
The pastor of the United Methodist Church on Hoagland Avenue discovered the body shortly before 8:48 a.m. in a church meeting room. Authorities said the man may have attended a meeting last night at the church.
The man was taken to St. Clare's Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:24 a.m.
Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi said, "The matter is being treated as a suspicious death. We are gathering the facts and evidence needed to determine the cause and manner of death. That evidence gathering includes witness interviews, forensic collection and evaluation of pathology findings by detectives and attorneys from the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, Rockaway Borough police and the Morris County Sheriff's Office, who are all working diligently investigating the circumstances of this death."
The investigation is being headed by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office with the Morris County Sheriff's Office and the Rockaway Borough Police Department. Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi is asking anyone with information to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at (973) 285-6200, Rockaway Borough Police Department at (973) 627-1314 or the Morris County Sheriff's Office CrimeStopper Program at (973) COP-CALL (973) 267-2255.
Media Contact: Agent Bill Swayze
Arrest in Fire at Boonton High School
Thursday, November 13, 2008A 14-year old boy was charged last night with igniting a fire in a bathroom at Boonton High School, shutting down the school and sending students home.
The boy, whose name is being withheld because he's a juvenile, was charged with three counts of third-degree arson and one count of third-degree criminal mischief, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office and Boonton police.
The boy had been smoking in the first-floor bathroom and placed the lit cigarette into the toilet paper roll, sparking the fire at 10:40 a.m. No one was hurt.
The fire was contained to the bathroom, but smoke caused headaches in the building. The cafeteria was closed by the Boonton health department, the prosecutor said.
Prosecutor Robert Bianchi noted, "Our office is committed to protecting the safety, health and welfare of our students. These kinds of events can easily escalate and cause catastrophic and widespread injury. We will attempt to strike a balance between rehabilitation of the youthful offender while simultaneously sending a message that conduct of this nature can not be tolerated."
Following the charges, the student was turned over to his parents.
The officers who worked on the investigation include lead Detective Chris Kimker of the prosecutor's office along with Captain Curt James, Lt. David Mayhood and Sgt. Stephen Jones with the Boonton Police Department. Also assisting were detectives Edward Crooker and Detective Tom Riedinger with the county sheriff's Criminal Investigation Unit.
Despite these pending charges every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his or her rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitution and relevant state law.
$20,000 Bribe Leads to Bust
Tuesday, November 11, 2008HANOVER: A 68-year-old Blairstown man with property in Hanover was charged with trying to bribe the local mayor, paying him $20,000 to influence the township's zoning board to approve his request for a zone change, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. and Hanover Police Chief Stephen Gallagher.
Michael Sesera needed a use variance to develop his vacant property at the corner of Parsippany and Whippany roads, they said. His application had stalled before the zoning board.
Yesterday, Sesera handed off the money at 4 p.m. to Mayor Ronald Francioli in a parking lot at the Rockaway Townsquare mall and was arrested by detectives with the prosecutor's office and Rockaway and Hanover police.
Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. called the arrest a success.
"This office investigates aggressively all allegations of public corruption, as well as, those who attempt to bribe our hard working government officials. I applaud Hanover Township Mayor Ronald Francioli for immediately reporting this incident and for his participation in this investigation. The citizens of Hanover Township should be proud of how their mayor assisted the Morris County Prosecutor's Office in bringing the defendant to justice and to ensure that the citizens reap the benefits of clean government that is not for sale," Bianchi said.
Sesera was charged with bribery, a second-degree offense punishable by up to 10 years in state prison. Sesera remains in the Morris County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, which was set by Rockaway Township Municipal Judge Gerald F. Smith.
Francioli had notified the prosecutor's office about the matter, prompting the probe.
The investigation was headed by Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Robert Weber and Lt. Michael Rice and Detectives Daniel Henderson and Steve Murzenski with the prosecutor's office, Hanover Township Detective Chris Thompson and Rockaway Township Detective Rob Randzio.
Despite these pending charges every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his or her rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitution and relevant state law.