MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Democrats unanimously re-elected their leadership team during the biennial reorganization meeting held at County College of Morris in Randolph on Saturday, June 24.

Re-elected were Chair Amalia Duarte of Mendham Township, Vice Chair Mike DeLamater of Morristown, Treasurer Michael Thompson of Mendham Township, Secretary Dary Draeger of Chester, and Sergeant at Arma Cara Parmigiani of Morris Plains.

Morris Plains Mayor Jason Karr swore in the team.

County Committee representatives from nearly every town in the county participated in the meeting, held every two years.

In her remarks, Duarte thanked the municipal chairs, county committee members and elected officials for their work to continue winning seats and expanding the party in Morris County.

She also reviewed last year’s progress, including the building a greater social media presence; funding every campaign last year; offering Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training; reducing overhead; recruiting candidates; and organizing successful rallies, fundraisers and candidate training events.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Roxbury Police Chief Dean Adone offers an update on the search for Lara Emanuele, 46.

Emanuele is 5 feet and 6 inches tall, has red hair, and weighs about 125 pounds.

She worked at the Alexander Hamilton Elementary School in Morristown.

Emanuele was reported missing on June 7 after not returning home from work. The ongoing, coordinated search effort includes officers, K-9s, and technical assistance from Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Missing Persons Unit, Roxbury Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit, New Jersey State Police K9 Unit, New Jersey Search and Rescue (comprised of law enforcement and trained civilians), Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office K9, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office K9, Pennsylvania Search and Rescue, and the Conservation Police. Operations are weather-permitting.

Operations have been centered on the Berkshire Valley State Wildlife Management Area and surrounding areas, as Emanuele’s vehicle was found on June 8 in the nearby parking lot of a hotel on Howard Boulevard. The search includes officers, multiple K-9s, trained civilians, and technical assistance, such as drones.

The search is in addition to a comprehensive investigation by the MCPO Missing Persons Unit, Roxbury Police Department, and assisting agencies. The investigation so far has included a review of video surveillance from multiple sources, a review of digital communications, canvassing in several locations, interviews, and other standard procedures. Emanuele’s cell phone was found in her abandoned vehicle. Authorities observed Emanuele exit her vehicle in the parking lot alone and depart of her own free will.

Emanuele’s disappearance is not considered suspicious, but there is concern for her well-being. As Emanuele has not been located, the investigation remains open.

Prosecutor Carroll said, “This is a difficult time for Ms. Emanuele’s family and the Roxbury and Alexander Hamilton School communities. Law enforcement has been working diligently to locate Ms. Emanuele, carried out by many law enforcement professionals and trained civilians, so far over a grueling 21 days, in challenging conditions. The officers and volunteers who work tirelessly to find Ms. Emanuele deserve our gratitude.

We know Ms. Emanuele is a special person, evident by the outpouring of support and offers to help this case has generated. Regrettably, her disappearance has also spawned rumors and speculation on social media, spread by people falsely claiming to represent law enforcement.

Out of respect and consideration for Emanuele’s family, there will be no further comment on the details of this investigation.”

Anyone with information regarding Emanuele’s whereabouts or this investigation is encouraged to make contact with the Roxbury Police Department at (973) 448-2100 or the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Missing Persons Unit On-Call Detective through the Morris County Communications Center at (973) 285-2900.

MORRIS COUNTY — Tourne County Park and trails reopened on Thursday, June 28.

“We ask that dog owners respect their fellow park patrons and the wildlife that call the park home and follow park commission rules and regulations by keeping dogs on a leash,” said park officials.

The park closed after a report of a black bear displaying aggressive behavior towards park patrons, announced park officials. A bear came within a few feet of patrons in two cases. There was also an incident between a park patron and a bear protecting its three cubs, said authorities.

For more information on what to do when encountering a bear, visit the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife website by clicking here.

Tourne County Park is at McCaffrey Lane and Old Boonton Road in Denville.

DENVILLE — A man from New York faces charges after being accused of driving a vehicle with stolen license plates in Denville Township.

On June 25, an officer noticed a vehicle on Route 46 with a loud exhaust and a cracked windshield, which were violations. Before pulling over the vehicle, the officer checked the license plate and discovered that it had been reported stolen in New York City. Additionally, the driver was observed making an unsafe lane change.

Upon stopping the vehicle, the driver was identified as Anthony Santiago, a 40-year-old resident of the Bronx. Police also noticed an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

Santiago was arrested and charged with various offenses, including receiving stolen property, having a noisy muffler, careless driving, using fictitious license plates, driving without a license, and possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. He was released with a pending court appearance.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Dover — Helen “Elena” Pennella, 95, Dover, passed June 23, at Visiting Nurses Association of Northern New Jersey Hospice, at Dover General Hospital.

Helen was an active volunteer in the community having served on the local shade tree commission where she was instrumental in having Dover named a “Tree City” USA.

She was a member of the Dover Recreation Commission and was responsible for the cherry trees planted in Hurd Park. There is a cherry tree planted in that park with a plaque that states “Helen Pennella, Dover’s Ambassador to Trees”.

She was a long time member of the Dover Public Library Board and served for a time as its chairperson. She led the “Friends of the Library” which conducted the “Reading is Fundamental” program.”

MORRIS COUNTY — Christopher Schellhorn, Chief Assistant Prosecutor of the Tactical Division, has been installed as President of the Morris County Bar Foundation. Formerly having held the positions of Secretary and Vice President of the Morris County Bar Association, Schellhorn was installed to the position of President during the Morris County Bar Association’s Installation & Awards Dinner on June 15 held at the Brooklake Country Club.

The Morris County Bar Foundation was established in 1990 to serve as the charitable affiliate of the Morris County Bar Association.

Prosecutor Robert Carroll said, “I congratulate CAP Schellhorn on this well-deserved honor. CAP Schellhorn embodies the integrity of the law profession and is committed to the administration of justice. The Foundation is in good hands under this leadership.”
Morris County First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood said, “We are extremely proud that Chief Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn has been appointed to this leadership role with the Morris County Bar Association Foundation. He has served the County of Morris with distinction for several years and is an extremely talented and dedicated attorney.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood, Morris County Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Washington Township Police Chief Jeffrey Almer confirm the arrest of John Green, 65, of Washington Township, in connection with maintaining a peer-to-peer child abuse network, and possession of child sex abuse material.

The defendant has been charged with one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Maintaining a Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Program of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM)), a first degree offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4B(5)(a)(iii), and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Possession of CSAM), a second degree offense in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4B(5)(b)(ii).

The investigation began when the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit identified possible CSAM on a BitTorrent site in Morris County. BitTorrent is a Peer-to-Peer file sharing network. The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office referred this information to the Morris County Prosecutor’s ICAC Task Force of the Sex Crimes / Child Endangerment Unit.

Further investigation revealed numerous media files, each depicting the alleged sexual exploitation or abuse of a minor, stored on the BitTorrent site. The investigation further revealed that these were accessible for download. It is alleged the BitTorrent was associated with the defendant’s residence, where he lives alone. A search of defendant’s electronic devices revealed additional items of suspected CSAM on his computer. An initial review revealed in excess of 1,000 items of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).

Defendant was arrested on the above charges on June 2. Following his arrest, on June 19, he was detained in the Morris County Correctional Facility, pursuant to the Criminal Justice Reform Act. First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie Calderwood would like to acknowledge the Hunterdon and Warren County Prosecutor’s Offices, the New Jersey State Police, Washington Township Police Department, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for their efforts in this investigation.

If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force of the Sex Crimes / Child Endangerment Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at (973) 285-6200.

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