Photo for illustration purposes only. The actual incident may not reflect the photo.
DOVER — On Monday, May 27, at 2:05 a.m., Ms. Gina Padilla-Diaz, 34, Budd Lake, was traveling west on West Blackwell Street when her vehicle, a 2021 Honda CRV ran off the roadway to the right and struck a utility pole and the rear boulder retaining wall of 3 Hillsdale Avenue.
The vehicle suffered from heavy front-end damage with airbag deployment.
Dover Police Officer Kristopher Martinez arrived at the scene and observed Padilla with bloodshot eyes, watery eyes, droopy eyelids, and slurred speech. Officer Martinez administered field sobriety tests, which Padilla failed.
The Officer then advised the driver she was under arrest for driving while intoxicated (DWI).
Officer Christopher Caraig searched the driver’s vehicle, which revealed negative results for intoxicants. Sergeant Wilkes remained with the car until Bunky’s Towing towed it from the scene for impound.
She was transported to the Wharton Police Department, where Officer Michael Flora administered the Alcotest to the driver. The driver provided two breath samples, and the Alcotest resulted in a 0.15% blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
Ms. Gina Padilla-Diaz was issued the following summonses pending court on June 10, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. at the Dover Municipal Court:
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New Expansion Plans for MPAC: Adding 31,000 Square Feet and Parking
MORRIS COUNTY — The Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC) in Morristown has received approval from the Morristown zoning board for a significant expansion project. The plan includes a five-story, 31,000-square-foot addition and a bi-level parking garage extending from South Street to King Place. This development aims to enhance MPAC’s facilities and accommodate growing community needs.
The New Jersey Historic Preservation Office has also approved the project, ensuring that it aligns with historical preservation standards. Construction, set to begin later this year, is expected to take two years to complete. During this time, MPAC staff will manage school pick-up and drop-off on Pine Street to minimize traffic disruptions.
This expansion is particularly timely given the predictions of an active hurricane season. MPAC plays a crucial role in the community, not just as a cultural hub but also as an emergency support venue.
Police Officers apprehend a suspect at gunpoint at an office complex in Cedar Knolls
HANOVER — A recent incident in Hanover Township led to the arrest of a 19-year-old and three juveniles following a pursuit in a stolen Mercedes Benz. On Wednesday, June 19, Officer Morrisroe was on patrol when he observed a Mercedes Benz driving at a high rate of speed with tinted front windows and an expired inspection sticker. Officer Morrisroe checked the vehicle’s license plate and was alerted that it was reported stolen out of Pennsylvania.
The driver accelerated when officers attempted to stop the vehicle, leading to a reckless chase that ended in a crash with another vehicle on Ridgedale Avenue by Wing Drive. The four occupants fled on foot, but police quickly apprehended one juvenile. The others were found with assistance from local law enforcement and various resources, including drones and a helicopter.
A loaded handgun was recovered from the vehicle. The juveniles from Newark and Irvington face multiple charges, including possession of a stolen car, firearm offenses, and resisting arrest. Additionally, one juvenile was charged with prescription drugs and theft.
On Wednesday afternoon, June 19, Officer Brian Morrisroe of the Hanover Police Department arrested Mr. Noel Kamara, a 19-year-old from Newark, along with three juveniles who are from Newark and Irvington, NJ, and charged them with unlawful possession of a firearm.
Noel Kamara, 19, of Newark, was charged with numerous offenses, including eluding, obstruction, receiving stolen property, firearm offenses, burglary, and multiple motor vehicle violations.
Kamara had an active no-bail warrant from Newark and is currently held at the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance. The juveniles were transported to the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center.
Additional officers from Hanover Township, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Parsippany, Florham Park, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and the Morris County Department of Law and Public Safety responded and established a perimeter.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
NJ Morning Show Host Bill Spadea Announces Gubernatorial Candidacy
MORRIS COUNTY — Bill Spadea, a well-known radio host, has announced his candidacy for Governor of New Jersey. Spadea announced on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I’m in. I’m running for governor to fight for you,” and emphasized his readiness to lead with “Strength, conviction, and courage to restore common sense to our great state.”
A native of New Jersey residing in Princeton, Spadea has been the morning drive show host on 101.5 FM for the past nine years. His entry into the gubernatorial race adds a prominent conservative voice to the political landscape of New Jersey.
Bill Spadea’s gubernatorial announcement highlights the issues New Jersey residents frequently discuss on his talk show. Spadea criticizes Trenton politicians for policies he claims benefit illegal immigrants at the expense of taxpayers. He promises to make tough budget cuts, reform school funding to reduce property taxes for suburban parents and ensure education focuses on academics rather than indoctrination.
Spadea Pledges Tough Budget Cuts in Run for NJ Governor
Spadea also vows to prevent President Joe Biden from using New Jersey to house illegal immigrants and to end the associated benefits provided by current Governor Phil Murphy and other politicians he deems ineffective.
Spadea joins the Republican primary field, including State Senator Jon Bramnick, former gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, and State Senator Ed Durr, who gained prominence by defeating former State Senate President Steve Sweeney in 2021.
Murphy is term-limited, and four Democrats have already entered the race to succeed him: Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, the president of the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest public employee union.
Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, former Deputy U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Jim Johnson, and others could join the race.
Spadea positions himself as an outsider, claiming that the insider establishment powerbrokers dislike him because they cannot control him.
On the Republican side, Bill Spadea joins an already competitive race. State Senator Jon Bramnick announced his candidacy in January, followed by Jack Ciattarelli, who made his second gubernatorial run official in April. Ed Durr, notable for his 2021 victory over former State Senate President Steve Sweeney, has also declared his intention to run for governor.
Across the aisle, the Democratic field is equally crowded. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop announced his campaign in April, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka declared his candidacy in February, and Steve Sweeney entered the race in December. Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller joined the race in June.
In his campaign announcement, Spadea emphasizes his outsider status, stating, “The insider establishment powerbrokers, well, they don’t like me. Why? Because I’m an outsider, they can’t control.”
Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor, East Hanover Mayor Joseph Pannullo, Governor Candidate Bill Spadea, Hanover Mayor Thomas “Ace” Gallagher, Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio and Mount Arlington Mayor Mike Stanzilis
Recently, Spadea hosted a panel discussion titled “Crucial Issues Shaping Our Community” featuring Parsippany’s Mayor Jamie Barberio. The panel also included Hanover Mayor Thomas “Ace” Gallagher, East Hanover Mayor Joseph Pannullo, Mount Arlington Mayor Mike Stanzilis, and Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor.
Before getting into media, Spadea served as an executive in the real estate industry for 18 years, coaching, recruiting, and selling. He is currently a licensed broker in several states, including New Jersey, Washington, and Massachusetts, working with a national real estate company. Following the show on FoxTV, Spadea launched and continues to manage the budget and production for a film company that sold its latest movie, “Psycho Storm Chaser,” to LifetimeTV.
The Morris County Correctional Facility, located at 43 John Street in Morris Township, serves as the primary detention center operated by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.
MORRIS COUNTY — Under the shared services agreement, Somerset County will pay Morris County $115 per day, representing a 10% to 15% reduction in housing an inmate at the Somerset County Jail. No jobs will be lost, as the number of corrections officers has already decreased by about 40 due to retirements and attrition over the past year.
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners has finalized a shared services agreement under which Somerset County corrections inmates will be lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility for five years.
Somerset County Jail is located at 40 Grove Street, Somerville.
Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson stated, “The agreement with Morris County to provide jail services will deliver ongoing taxpayer savings while ensuring the needs of our detainees and the courts are met. I want to thank Sheriff Darrin Russo, my fellow Commissioners, and neighboring county officials for helping to reach this positive outcome for all involved.”
The Somerset County Jail will continue to operate on a limited basis to meet the needs of the courts and local law enforcement agencies by providing short-term housing for detainees scheduled for court hearings. Detainees serving sentences or held for longer periods will be housed at the Morris County Correctional Facility at 43 John Street in Morris Township. This $32 million facility, opened in May 2000, includes eight housing pods with 277 cells capable of housing 524 inmates. Morris County Correctional Facility is located less than a mile from Interstate 287’s interchange and is easily accessible.
Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson
Since August 4, 2023, all female incarcerated persons have been permanently transferred to the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center.
New Jersey’s 2017 bail reform law, which prevents courts from granting or denying bail based on a defendant’s ability to pay, has significantly reduced county jail populations by decreasing the number of defendants incarcerated while awaiting trial. The pandemic further reduced jail populations. Over the past year, the average number of inmates held at Somerset County Jail has been 125 per day, about one-third of its capacity.
“We’ve worked hard over the past year to find a solution that supports the courts and our local police departments, protects public safety, and aids county staff impacted by the changes,” said Somerset County Sheriff Darrin Russo. “Because of reduced populations, county jails throughout the state are consolidating populations, and we are pleased to partner with Morris County to achieve this successful outcome.”
“Somerset County saw a need to change their operational approach to their correctional facility, and we saw an opportunity to assist them. This triple net lease arrangement is aligned with a shared services approach and benefits the Morris County taxpayer,” said Morris County Sheriff James Gannon.
“It cuts operational expenses for Morris County while ensuring those in custody from Somerset County are well cared for. It gives access to pre-trial detainees and sentenced people of Somerset County to all our proven services like the Hope Wing, the Morris County Re-entry program, educational and vocational training, and other programs to reduce recidivism. Our state-of-the-art facility, professional staff, and forward-thinking make this possible. I am very proud that the Morris County Sheriff’s Office can support the needs of our communities and beyond while benefiting Morris County,” the sheriff added.
In 2021, Bergen and Passaic county officials formally agreed to transfer hundreds of inmates from the Passaic County Jail in Paterson to Bergen County’s facility in Hackensack. This move resulted in the emptying and future demolishing of the Marshall Street facility for the first time in its 66-year history.
The 10-year deal is valued at a minimum of $195 million. Under the shared services agreement, Passaic will pay Bergen approximately $104 per day for a minimum of 500 inmates. The contract allows Passaic to send up to 700 inmates, which could increase the deal’s value significantly. The per-day inmate rate will climb over the contract’s life, from $104 at the outset to $112 when it expires in 2031.
Bergen County Jail is located at 160 South River Street, Hackensack. The jail employs 280 Correction Officers and has 1,150 beds. This around-the-clock operation is one of the state’s finest correctional facilities.
Morris County is in its fifth year of a shared services agreement with Sussex County and currently holds about 55 inmates from that neighboring county. Morris County’s correctional facility can hold 524 inmates, and the current facility population with inmates from all three counties is at about 304.4444
BOONTON — Boonton Brewfest is set to return to Canal Side Park in Boonton on Saturday, September 7. The event will run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a VIP opening at noon. Featuring over 30 New Jersey craft breweries and 6 to 8 local cuisine offerings, the festival promises a delightful experience for attendees.
Two live bands and a DJ will provide entertainment, while adult games like cornhole, giant Jenga, and bucket pong add to the fun. A memento glass with a tasting card is included in the ticket price, and local vendors and merchandise will be available.
Tickets are currently on sale, with early bird pricing available until the end of June. Tickets can be purchased at Boonton Main Street, Inc. For more information or to buy tickets, call (973) 257-9107, email [email protected], or visit www.BoontonMainStreet.org.
Boonton Township Police: Help Needed to Solve Recent Home Burglary
BOONTON TOWNSHIP — Boonton Township Police are seeking the public’s assistance regarding a home burglary that occurred around 2:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14.
Officers from the Boonton Township Police Department were dispatched to an address on Mountain Run following a burglary report. Upon arrival, they discovered a rear window of the residence partially open and damaged. Further investigation revealed that the rear window had been left unlocked.
The Boonton Township Police Department Detective Bureau is investigating the case. Anyone with information can call (973) 402-4022. Thank you.
Morris County Sheriff James Gannon swore Westenberger in, with his girlfriend, Leilani Reyes, holding the Bible and his mother, Cindy Westenberger, observing
BOONTON TOWNSHIP — During the Boonton Township Committee meeting on Monday, June 10, a new police officer was sworn in. Will Westenberger, 25, a resident of Boonton Township, will attend Morris County Police Academy for six months.
Morris County Sheriff James Gannon swore Westenberger in, with his girlfriend, Leilani Reyes, holding the Bible and his mother, Cindy Westenberger, observing. Westenberger’s starting salary is $45,000.
George Leguen, 51, pleaded guilty on June 12, before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
NEW JERSEY — A Paramus man admitted that he fraudulently obtained an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and laundered the loan proceeds, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
George Leguen, 51, pleaded guilty on June 12, before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From August 2020 through January 2021, Leguen participated in a scheme to defraud to fraudulently receive COVID-19 emergency relief funds for distressed small businesses under the EIDL program. Leguen applied to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a company he owned and controlled. He submitted fraudulent information supporting that application, including the number of employees, annual gross revenue figures, and fraudulent federal tax returns. Leguen received $149,900. After receiving the fraudulent funds, he diverted the proceeds for his gain.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is most significant. The money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the laundering offense, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for December 19, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark: the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz of the New Jersey Field Division; special agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron Hatley, Newark Field Office; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, Northeast Region, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger
The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. They are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring those who stole pandemic relief funds to justice.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form by clicking here.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fatime Meka Cano and Aja Espinosa of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
Click here to download the document information indictment.
