Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Home Blog Page 170

Nafis H. Wiggins to Serve Ten Years for Luring Minors, Drug Possession in Chatham

By
Frank Cahill
-
0
File Photo

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Chief Thomas Miller of the Chatham Township Police Department confirmed the sentencing of Nafis H. Wiggins, 26, of Newark, in connection with a December 2023 arrest in Chatham Township.

On August 1, 2024, the Honorable Claudia Jones, J.S.C. imposed an aggregate sentence of ten years in New Jersey State Prison. Wiggins must also register according to Megan’s Law and be subject to Parole Supervision for Life. On March 1, 2024, Wiggins had previously entered guilty pleas to two counts of second-degree Luring and one count of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute.

Between August 1 and September 28, 2023, Wiggins (age 25 at the time) provided narcotics to two victims, ages 14 and 15, in exchange for sexual favors, recruiting and luring the minors via text messages. On several occasions, Wiggins met with the victims at locations in Chatham Township and Chatham Borough and transported the victims in his vehicle to more secluded areas to engage in drug use and sexual activity. At the time of his arrest on December 19, 2023, at Cougar Field in Chatham Township, Wiggins was found to have CDS.  Under the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Wiggins was detained in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending the case outcome.

Prosecutor Carroll would like to thank and acknowledge the agencies that participated in the investigation that led to the successful prosecution, including the Chatham Township Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office’s Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit.

The Mental Health Association is hosting a free event!

By
Frank Cahill
-
0

MORRIS COUNTY — Join the community for “Express Yourself: An Empowering Youth Mental Health and Wellness Experience” on Thursday, August 22nd, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA, 100 Fanny Road, Mountain Lakes.

“Express Yourself” provides a safe space for youth aged 11-17 to connect with peers while exploring mental health and wellness through various activities, including art, dance, and games. Attendees who register will receive a meal, gift cards, and self-care kits.

John Franklin (@johnfranklin_) from “The Circle” on Netflix will be present, offering insights into his comedy style that focuses on mental health, his career, and how he manages the stress of being in the public eye.

Registration is required. To register, click here.

Mountain Lakes Residents Invited to Cornhole Sundays

By
Frank Cahill
-
0

MOUNTAIN LAKES – This August, Island Beach is the place to be for cornhole enthusiasts.

Every Sunday morning, on August 4, 11, 18, and 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Mountain Lakes residents and their guests are invited to join in the fun. Whether you can make it for one day or all four, everyone is welcome to drop in at any time during the session.

Three cornhole board sets will be provided by the borough, but feel free to bring your own. The games will start as soon as there are enough players, with winners continuing to play and others rotating until a new game opens. The provided boards will be put away promptly at 11:30 a.m. However, the event will be canceled if rain occurs.

Island Beach, located at 124 Intervale Road in Mountain Lakes, offers a beautiful setting for this friendly competition. So, grab your family and friends and head down to Island Beach for some cornhole fun this August. Enjoy the community spirit and the scenic beach while showcasing your cornhole skills.

Six-Month-Old Pronounced Dead After Being Left in Car for Over Four Hours

By
Frank Cahill
-
0
Morris County Prosecutor

EAST HANOVER — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and East Hanover Police Chief Christopher Cannizzo confirmed charges have been filed in connection with the July 17, 2024 death of a six-month-old infant in East Hanover.

On July 17, at approximately 1:30 p.m., officers from the East Hanover Police Department responded to a parking lot on South Ridgedale Avenue on Route 10 for a 911 call of a pediatric patient in a parked vehicle. Paramedics attempted to render lifesaving aid to a six-month-old female infant. The female infant was subsequently pronounced deceased at Morristown Medical Center. The investigation revealed that the infant was left unattended in the vehicle for approximately four- and one-half hours.

Livia Patelli, 33, of Roseland, the infant’s mother, has been charged with second-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(2). She was detained at the Morris County Correctional Facility under Criminal Justice Reform but was released following her First Appearance Hearing held on August 1, 2024.

Patelli stated to East Hanover Police that she arrived at her office shortly after 8:30 a.m. and parked her vehicle in the parking lot. She reported that at 1:11 p.m., she received a message from the baby’s daycare when she realized that she had forgotten to drop off the child at daycare. Patelli reported that she forgot to drop off the child at daycare and did not realize until she received the message from the daycare.

On video surveillance from the parking lot, Patelli is observed responding to her vehicle, remaining by the passenger side of the car for several seconds, and then returning inside her office building. At no time did Patelli remove the child’s body from the vehicle or attempt to render aid to the child. Several minutes later, coworkers were engaged to attempt to aid the child before East Hanover Police’s arrival.

The child was located in her car seat in the rear passenger seat.

The sunroof (shade) of the vehicle was fully open but all windows were closed.

Patelli stated she always dropped off the child at daycare; the car seat would be removed from the vehicle, leaving only a flat base in her vehicle after drop off.

The investigation was conducted by the East Hanover Police Department and Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, with support from the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations Unit and Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes Child Endangerment Unit.

This investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200 or the East Hanover Police Department at (973) 887-0432. 

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Smiles By Specialists Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting

By
Frank Cahill
-
0
Dr. Anthony Sallustio, Mr. Nicholas Karzon, Dr. Ashley Azizian, Dr. John Guttuso, Councilmember Melissa Honohan, Chamber Vice President Randy Hurley & DDC & Chamber representative Sue Whitehorn.

MADISON — Councilmember Melissa Honohan, joined by members of the Downtown Development Commission and the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, welcomed Smiles By Specialists to Madison at their Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting on July 10. 

Smiles by Specialist at 18 Madison Avenue offers exceptional oral health care, specializing in smile restoration and transformations. Smiles By Specialists can be found on their website at smilesbyspecialistsnj.com.

Community Rallies for Albertus Swanepoel Memorial Fund

By
Frank Cahill
-
0

MOUNTAIN LAKES — The sudden and tragic loss of our dear friend Albertus Swanepoel deeply saddens us. Albertus was an incredibly talented artist and a humble, gentle, and loving man. He was a partner, a brother, and a cherished friend to many who loved him dearly. Our hearts are broken, and we are lost without him. Albertus’s business was self-financed and operated on a day-to-day basis. He was a true artist, dedicated to his craft, and no estate matches the magnificence of his legacy. In this difficult time, we want to honor Albertus’s memory and support his family. We are reaching out to ask for your help. Please consider donating to support our beloved friend Albertus Swanepoel’s memorial and to assist his devoted partner, Eddie, during this challenging period. Any contribution, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your love and support.”

Click here to donate through GoFundMe.

Dunn Hosts Gen Z Meeting on Affordability, Addiction 

By
Frank Cahill
-
0
Pictured: Seated, center: Assemblywoman Aura Dunn and Founder and President of Jersey 1st Rosemary Becchi, and (left) Northeast Regional Director at Americans for Prosperity Ross Connolly and (right) Jersey 1st Internship Coordinator and Advocacy Director Zachery Dora. Second row, left to right: interns Brielle Jani, Arianna Salazar and Kiara Christmas; and Cossette Gonzalez, Megan Whitman, Sara Farris and Tvisha Shah. Back row, left to right: team leader Logan Robinson and interns Andrew Frederick, Caleb M. Pamphil, Hunter Wilson, Alexandra Peraza, Joshua Freiheiter, Brynn Kearns, Madeline Kruszczynski and Olivia Manga.

MORRIS COUNTY — On Wednesday, Student interns had the opportunity to discuss addiction in New Jersey, family unification, and legislative solutions to the state’s affordability crisis at a roundtable hosted by Assemblywoman Aura Dunn at her office in Chester

“New Jersey needs a fresh perspective, which is exactly what these dynamic and engaging young people delivered. They deserve to have their voices heard, and I am honored to provide that forum,” Dunn (R-Morris) said.

Dunn invited her legislative interns and young people with Jersey 1st, a grassroots conservative advocacy group, to present policy proposals and ideas aimed at keeping young people in the state, as well as addressing addiction and its impact on families.

“Engaging in meaningful dialogue with the next generation can help lawmakers develop policies that resonate with other young people. This is a worthwhile exercise for every elected official and students interested in civics,” Dunn added. “I’m encouraged there are so many talented students who are stepping up to the plate to address the issues of today and preparing to play a larger role in the future of New Jersey.”

Student participants researched Gen Z’s ability to pay for college and buy a home in New Jersey. They looked at ways to make living more affordable for their generation by cutting certain taxes, creating long-term employment opportunities, and improving transportation. They also discovered that more than half the state’s children removed from their homes because of substance use disorder are under the age of 1, and examined policies that support family unification. 

“I am committed to lifting up this next generation. I’ve also gained a better understanding of how to do that, thanks to their insights. I hope they step away from this with a greater appreciation for public service and a deeper sense of purpose,” Dunn said. 

.

Sherrill Celebrates Federal Grant Funding Awarded to CCM

By
Frank Cahill
-
0
Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill

MORRIS COUNTY — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) applauded federal investments coming to County College of Morris (CCM) to bolster innovative job training and advanced technology programs. The college is receiving $200,000 from the Department of Energy (DOE) and $650,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help it continue to build world-class apprenticeship and education programs that will be accessible to New Jerseyans across all socioeconomic backgrounds.

“I continue to be so impressed by County College of Morris’s commitment to breaking technology and innovation barriers, building tomorrow’s skilled workforce, and making high-quality education and job training programs accessible to all. I am excited to see CCM awarded nearly one million dollars in federal funding to continue building first-rate job training programs. With these grants, we’re investing our federal tax dollars back into our state to make New Jersey a place where our students, workforce, and businesses can thrive,” said Rep. Sherrill. “Thank you to President Iacono and the entire team at CCM for their advocacy and I look forward to continuing to work together to bring federal dollars back to CCM.” 

“CCM is incredibly appreciative of Congresswoman Sherrill’s significant support since taking office. These grants allow the college to launch new programs while expanding others to prepare community members for careers that offer family-sustaining salaries while meeting the needs of employers throughout the region. Advocacy, collaboration with a wide network of employers and support organizations, vision, and hard work are allowing New Jerseyans to live their best lives,” said Anthony J. Iacono, Ph.D., President of County College of Morris.

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill has worked closely with the County College of Morris to bring back federal funding to help the College provide access to education and job training programs for New Jersey’s 11th District. This year, she secured $1 million in federal Community Project funding to support a new CCM Workforce Development Center in Dover.

Town of Boonton Police Department is Hiring

By
Frank Cahill
-
0
Boonton Police

BOONTON — The Town of Boonton Police Department is looking for professional, qualified, and energetic applicants who embody the core values of integrity, duty, honor, and trust for the role of Special Law Enforcement Officer Class III (SLEO III).

This position focuses on school safety and security in the Boonton School District.

 The Town of Boonton Police Department is seeking professional, qualified, and energetic applicants who possess the department’s core values of Integrity, Duty, Honor, and Trust for the position of Special Law Enforcement Officer Class III (SLEO III). This SLEOIII position will be responsible for school safety and security duties within the Town of Boonton School District. 

The SLEO III position is a yearly appointment, and this position will begin with the 2024-2025 school year. The position may be renewed each subsequent year with the approval of all parties. The salary is $38.00 per hour, with an average work week of 37.5 hours during the school year. The SLEO III only works when school is in session, except for any specific in-service training that may be required. Hiring preference may be given to applicants who previously served as a School Resource Officer or are D.A.R.E or L.E.A.D. certified instructors. No health, dental, or prescription benefits are offered with this position. However, the employee will be eligible to receive paid time off. 

More information and the application can be found here.

Roger Williams University Announces 2024 Graduates

By
Frank Cahill
-
0
Roger Williams University is a private university in Bristol, Rhode Island.

MORRIS COUNTY — The following students received their degrees in May as part of the Class of 2024.

Ilaria Coen of Madison graduated with a B.S. in Marine Biology in May as part of the Class of 2024.

Abby Grove of Mountain Lakes graduated with a B.A. in Marine Biology and a B.A. in Aquaculture and Aquarium Science in May as part of the Class of 2024.

Brady Rose of Mountain Lakes graduated with a B.S. in Marketing in May as part of the Class of 2024.

About RWU: At Roger Williams University, students are prepared to be thinkers and doers ready to solve challenging problems with innovative solutions.

RWU offers 50 majors and robust offerings of graduate and professional programs across eight schools of study, including Rhode Island’s only law school, with campuses on the coast of Bristol and in the heart of Providence, R.I. With small classrooms and a focus on undergraduate and graduate research and community engagement, a Roger Williams education blends the strength of liberal arts and professional studies, providing all students with the depth and breadth of interdisciplinary thinking and well-rounded knowledge necessary to succeed in our interconnected, global world.

RWU is committed to strengthening society through engaged scholarship so that students graduate with the ability to think critically and apply the practical skills that today’s employers demand.

1...169170171...677Page 170 of 677

RECENT POSTS

BUSINESS BRIEFS

LOCAL COMMUNITIES

ABOUT US

Morris Focus was founded in 2017 and is published in print and online formats. Its mission is to provide timely and accurate news coverage to Morris County residents and promote community engagement and involvement. The newspaper covers various topics, including local government, education, business, and sports. We can be reached by calling (973) 559-6000—a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce and the Morris County Chamber of Commerce.

Contact us: [email protected]

FOLLOW US

© 2024 Zoomus Marketing, LLC.

Translate »