MORRIS COUNTY — A 40-year-old Jefferson woman is facing multiple charges after two young children were found alone and crying at Gardner Field playground on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
At approximately 6:00 p.m., officers from the Denville Police Department responded to a call reporting that two children—ages two and five—had been located without adult supervision in a corner of the playground at Gardner Field.
Following an on-scene investigation, police identified the children’s caretaker as Anna Masuk. Authorities determined that Masuk had left the children unattended for an extended period of time. When she returned to the playground, officers noted that additional children in her care were improperly secured inside her vehicle without appropriate child restraint systems.
As a result, Masuk was arrested and charged with the following:
- N.J.S.A. 9:6-3 – Abuse, cruelty or neglect of a child
- N.J.S.A. 39:3-76.2A – Failure to secure a child in a child passenger restraint system
Masuk was processed and released pending a future court date. No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
Editor’s Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
