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Pagans may be planning a 'violent' expansion into North Jersey

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A brutal beating of a Hells Angel associate near the group's clubhouse in Newark is part of a broader plan by the Pagans Motorcycle Club to expand its territory into northern New Jersey, authorities say. Watch video

The brutal beating of a Hells Angel associate in Newark late last month is part of a broader attempt by the Pagans Motorcycle Club (PMC) to expand its territory into northern New Jersey, NJ Advance Media has learned.

On April 24, a man who told police he just left the Hells Angels clubhouse on Clinton Avenue in Newark was beaten with a baseball bat as he was getting gas at a nearby station. 

Days later, Robert DeRonde turned himself into authorities and was charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses.

DeRonde, 54, of Edison, is accused of hopping out of a pickup truck and then using an aluminum baseball bat to beat a man so bad that he left him hospitalized with three broken ribs, authorities said.

DeRonde.jpgRobert DeRonde, 54, of Edison, appears for a detention hearing in Essex County Superior Court on Friday, May 4, 2018. (Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

Immediately following the attack, the New Jersey State Police sent out an unclassified intelligence memo to law enforcement agencies throughout the state warning of the Pagan's intentions to expand their territory "violently if necessary."

The memo, obtained by NJ Advance Media, says law enforcement should "remain vigilant" in areas where the Pagans and Hells Angels tend to congregate. It also noted that the Hells Angels could retaliate against the Pagans for an attack occurring so close to their clubhouse. 

The turf war between the Pagans and the Hells Angels in New Jersey and New York has been ongoing since the 1970s. 

pagan-jacket.jpgA typical jacket worn by Pagan members. This year, Pagan members have started wearing an East Coast patch -- also known as a "rocker" -- to symbolize their dominance of the entire East Coast. (Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

The Pagans, established in 1959 in Prince George's County, Maryland, have long seen the entire East Coast as its territory. This year, to further prove their East Coast dominance, Pagan riders started wearing a bottom rocker -- a patch that signals where a chapter is located -- on their jackets that just says "East Coast." 

The intelligence briefing obtained by NJ Advance Media says the Pagans are absorbing smaller motorcycle clubs and "patching" those members to bolster its numbers. 

Insiders say former Pagan leader Keith "Conan" Richter, who was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison in 1998 for attempted murder and racketeering, is back at the helm of the Pagans.

In New Jersey, the Pagans have held a stronghold on the Jersey Shore and South Jersey. The leader of the Cape May County chapter, Ferdinand Augello, is currently in jail awaiting trial in connection with the slaying of April Kauffman, a well-known radio personality in Atlantic County.

The farthest north in Jersey that the Pagans maintain a presence is in Elizabeth. It was there on June 30, 2017, that two South Jersey Pagan members were shot. The Pagans survived but did not cooperate with police, according to the intelligence memo.

The Hells Angels established their clubhouse in Newark in 2006. They, too, have had their run-ins with law enforcement, most recently in 2015 when four members were busted with drugs and weapons at an "End of Summer" bash in Clinton Township thrown by the club's Newark chapter. 

hells-angels.jpg The Hells Angels clubhouse on Clinton Avenue in Newark. (Alex Napoliello | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

In 2010, 17 alleged members of the Pagans were arrested in New York and New Jersey in a federal sweep of the tri-state area.

Authorities said at the time that members of the Pagans gathered for a special meeting at an undisclosed location in the Garden State to discuss killing rival members of the Hells Angels. The then-Long Island chapter president of the Pagans, Jason Blair, told members at the meeting to be prepared to die or go to prison.

Arrested in that sweep was DeRonde, who goes by the nickname "Hellboy."

A separate briefing prepared by the FBI, also obtained by NJ Advance Media, warns law enforcement of the possibility that the Pagans are working with members of the Latin Kings to smuggle in methamphetamine from Mexican drug traffickers.

The drug is being brought into the United States in liquid form, the briefing states, and then is converted into meth with a chemical powder that can be purchased at any home improvement store. 

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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17 Must-see softball games for May 7-12: County finals, playoff cutoffs and more

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It's a big week as teams prepare for the postseason.

games2watch016.JPGIt's a huge week in high school softball. The cutoff to qualify for postseason play is Thursday, while many county and conference tournaments are coming to a close or making their way towards a conclusion. Check out some of the top games around the state in an exciting week. 
games2watch016.JPGIt's a huge week in high school softball. The cutoff to qualify for postseason play is Thursday, while many county and conference tournaments are coming to a close or making their way towards a conclusion. Check out some of the top games around the state in an exciting week. 

$574K Jersey Cash 5 ticket bought at convenience store

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Someone bought the lucky ticket in Marlboro

A Jersey Cash 5 ticket worth $574,449 was bought for Saturday's drawing at a convenience store in Monmouth County.

The winner purchased the lucky ticket at 6-12 Convenience Store on South Main Street (Route 79) in Marlboro, state lottery officials said Monday.

Saturday's winning numbers were 11, 19, 25, 29 and 32. The XTRA number was 5

$4M Mega Millions ticket sold at Hudson County convenience store

The jackpot climbed above the half-million dollar mark after four consecutive daily drawings were held without a winner. No one hit the jackpot Sunday night, pushing Monday's top prize to $157,000.

Lottery players across the state bought 548,916 Jersey Cash 5 tickets for Saturday's drawing, officials said.

The odds of buying a $1 ticket which matches all five numbers are 962,598 to 1. 

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

 

There are 18 local elections Tuesday (and some of them actually matter)

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Three of New Jersey's major cities will choose their leaders in the non-partisan May municipal elections.

It's not time for the November elections, or even the June primaries. You probably haven't been inundated with tacky campaign commercials, or public service announcements about the importance of voting.

But, a handful of municipalities across the state are holding local elections Tuesday.

The municipal races in 18 towns across the state are all non-partisan, and though there are several non-contested races in the mix, some of this year's most high-profile local elections will be decided long before the November shuffle.

Voters in New Jersey's most populous city, Newark, will choose a mayor and all nine members of the city council. The race between incumbent Mayor Ras Baraka and challenger Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins has been a bitter one, and as the city is in the midst of an upward swing, with Amazon considering it as a finalist for its second headquarters, the stakes are high.

Two other major New Jersey cities - Trenton and Paterson - will have new mayors come Tuesday night. Trenton's Eric Jackson announced earlier this year he would not seek a second term in office, spurring a seven-way race for the town's top job. In Paterson, a six-way race emerged after current Mayor Jane Williams-Warren -- who has served in an interim capacity since 2017 after Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres pleaded guiltyto corruption charges - said she would not run for a full term.

In Long Branch, a hotly contested race for mayor has developed between incumbent Adam Schneider, School Board Member Avery Grant, and Councilman John Pallone, the brother of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. 

And in Newton, all eyes are on the future of Councilman Wayne Levante, who, while serving as mayor earlier this year, was catapulted into controversy after posting on Facebook conspiracy theories about the Parkland, Florida school shooting.

See the list below to check out all of the May races happening across the state Tuesday. And, if you live in one of the 18 towns, contact the clerk's office for voting hours and information.

Bergen County

Ridgewood

Council

Two four-year terms

  • Alexandra Harwin
  • Susan Knudsen
  • Michael A. Sedon
  • Janice M. Willett

Teterboro

Council

Five four-year terms

  • Christie Emden
  • Gregory J. Stein
  • Juan J. Ramirez
  • John B. Watt
  • John P. Watt

Teaneck

Council

Four four-year terms

  • Keith Kaplan
  • Elie Y. Katz
  • Alan Sohn
  • Gervonn Romney Rice
  • James Dunleavy
  • Clara Williams
  • Charles Powers

Burlington County

Medford Lake Borough

Council

Two full terms

  • Joseph A. Aromando, III
  • Thomas J. Cranston
  • Robert D. Hanold, Sr.

Camden County

Pine Valley

As one of N.J.'s smallest municipalities, there are only 15 registered voters in Pine Valley. According to the county clerk, residents vote only by mail, not in person.

Commission

Three full terms

  • Michael B. Kennedy
  • Debra M. Kennedy
  • Kendra L. Clark

Cape May County

Ocean City

Mayor

One four-year term

  • Jay Gillian
  • John Flood

Council

Three four-year terms

  • Karen Bergman
  • Keith Hartzell
  • Peter Madden

Essex County

Belleville

Mayor

One full term

  • Raymond Kimble
  • Liza M. Lopez
  • Michael A. Melham

Council

Two full terms

  • Charles G. Hood
  • Kevin G. Kennedy
  • Naomy Depena
  • Thomas Graziano
  • Victor G. Mesce
  • Felipe Reyes

Irvington

Mayor

One full term

  • Tony Vauss

Council

Three full terms

  • Barnes Reid
  • Renee C. Burgess
  • October Hudley
  • Charnette Frederic

Newark

Mayor

One four-year term

  • Ras Baraka
  • Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins

Council At-Large

Four four-year terms

  • Mildred C. Crump
  • Luis A. Quintana
  • Carlos M. Gonzalez
  • Eddie Osbourne
  • Dupre L. Kelly
  • Shakima K. Thomas
  • Bessie Walker
  • Hector M. Corchado
  • Ariagna Perello
  • Victor M. Monterrosa, Jr.
  • Council North Ward

One four-year term

  • Anibal Ramos
  • Pablo Olivera
  • Hellane T. Freeman
  • Katilia Y. Velez

Council South Ward

One four-year term

  • Terrance L. Bankston
  • Khalil Kettles
  • John Sharpe James

Council East Ward

One four-year term

  • Augusto Amador
  • Anthony Campos
  • Jonathan T. Seabra
  • Crystal C. Fonseca
  • Tanisha H. Garner

Council West Ward

One four-year term

  • Tomecca Mecca Keyes
  • Dereck L. Dillard
  • Lavita E. Johnson
  • Marcellus T. Allen
  • Artice K. Norvell, III
  • Joseph McCallum, Jr.

Council Central Ward

One four-year term

  • LaMonica R. McIver
  • Rafael A. Brito
  • Jaime Gonzalez
  • Rashon K. Hasan
  • Shawn X. McCray
  • Anthony D. Diaz
  • Luther D. Roberson
  • Basil Parker
  • Czezre T. Adams

Orange

Council North Ward

One full term

  • Tency A. Eason
  • Sharief Williams

Council East Ward

One full term

  • Kerry Coley
  • Dawan A. Alford

Council West Ward

One full term

  • Michael O. Scott
  • Harold J. Johnson, Jr.
  • Hassan Abdul-Rasheed

Council South Ward

One full term

  • Brandon K. Matthews
  • Jamie Summers-Johnson

Hudson County

Bayonne 

Mayor

One four-year term

  • Mitchell Brown 
  • Jimmy Davis
  • Jason O'Donnell 

Council At-Large

Two four-year terms

  • Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski
  • Melissa Enriquez-Rada
  • Juan Perez
  • Dan Ward

Council First Ward

One four-year term

  • Thomas Cotter
  • Sharma Montgomery 

Council Second Ward

One four-year term

  • Sal Gullace
  • Kevin Kuhl

Council Third Ward

One four-year term

  • Matt Klimansky 
  • Gary LaPelusa Sr.
  • Mark Urban 

Union City

Commission

Five four-year terms

  • Brian P. Stack
  • Wendy Grullon 
  • Maryury A. Martinetti
  • Lucio P. Fernandez
  • Celin Valdivia

Weehawken

Council At-Large

Two four-year terms

  • Richard F. Turner
  • David J. Curtis

Council First Ward

One four-year term

  • Carmela Silvestri-Ehret

Concil Second Ward

One four-year term

  • Rosemary Lavagnino

Council Third Ward

One four-year term

  • Raul I. Gonzalez

Mercer County

Trenton

Mayor

One four-year term

  • Reed Gusciora
  • Walker Worthy, Jr.
  • Darren "Freedom" Green
  • Paul Perez
  • Annette Horton-Lartigue
  • Duncan Harrison, Jr.
  • Alex Bethea

Council At-Large

Three four-year terms

  • Santiago Rodriguez
  • Rachel Cogsville-Lattimer
  • Elvin Montero
  • Nathaniel McCray
  • Kathy McBride
  • Jerell Blakeley 

Council East Ward

One four-year term

  • Elmer Sandoval
  • Joseph A. Harrison
  • Taiwanda Terry-Wilson
  • Perry Shaw III

Council North Ward

One four-year term

  • Algernon Ward, Jr.
  • Eboni Love
  • Marge Caldwell-Wilson

Council South Ward

One four-year term

  • Damian Malave
  • Jenna Kettenburg
  • George Muscal

Council West Ward

One four-year term

  • Robin Vaughn 
  • Dr. Shirley Gaines
  • Zachary Chester
  • Atalaya Armstrong

Monmouth County

Keansburg

Council

Two full terms

  • Jim Cocuzza
  • Judy Ferraro

Long Branch

Mayor

One full term

  • John Pallone
  • Avery Grant
  • Adam Schneider

Council At-Large

Five full terms

  • Edward Anastasio
  • Dennis Mikolay
  • Joy Bastelli
  • Kathleen "Kate" Billings
  • Diana Dos Santos
  • Adam Ponsi
  • Michael Sirianni
  • Mary Jane Celli
  • Lorenzo "Bill" Dangler
  • Rose M. Widdis
  • Mario R. Vieira
  • Anita Voogt

Passaic County

Paterson

Mayor

One full term

  • Alex Cruz
  • Michael Jackson
  • William McKoy
  • Alex Mendez
  • Pedro Rodriguez
  • Andre Sayegh

Council

Three full terms

  • Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman
  • Fatima Bell
  • Maritza Davila
  • Aslon Goow, Sr.
  • Bernard Jones
  • Douglas L. Maven
  • Kenneth McDaniel
  • Casey C. Melvin
  • Lilisa Mimms
  • Angela Muhammad
  • Flavio Rivera
  • Davon Roberts
  • Juan Mitch Santiago
  • Zellie Thomas

Sussex County

Newton

Council

Three four-year terms

  • Matthew Dickson
  • Sandra Diglio
  • E. Kevin Elvidge
  • Wayne Levante
  • Ludmilla Mecaj
  • Alex Majewski
  • Jason Schlaffer

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Boys track and field: 5 new stars added on the way to the 2018 Fab 50

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Who's the best of the best?

'You haven't seen this before.' A new place to attack the opioid crisis

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The New Jersey Department of Corrections has an entire prison dedicated to treating inmates with addictions.

Gunman accused in fatal Freehold shooting likely chose his victim at random

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Authorities are investigating the possibility that the suspect committed 2 non-fatal shootings in Neptune and Holmdel recently

The gunman accused of opening fire and killing a 24-year-old motorist in Freehold Township last week appeared to have chosen his victim at random, according to police reports.

kader-mustafa.jpgKader Mustafa

The victim, Sciasia Calhoun, was driving with her boyfriend and their 1-year-old child on Route 33 west in Freehold when they first encountered the gunman, Kader Mustafa, who was driving in a white "beat up" Chevrolet Impala, according to the affidavit of probable cause in the case.

Calhoun was driving a 1997 blue Mazda Protege with her high beams on because her headlights weren't working properly, the affidavit states. (The couple were initially heading east, to Neptune, but turned around when the headlights stopped working.)

Calhoun pulled up behind Mustafa on Route 33 near The Cabin restaurant around 11:44 p.m. on Thursday.

Moments later, Mustafa, a 34-year-old Hightstown resident, pulled over and left Calhoun pass him, the report states. He then "came up on them aggressively," it states, at which time Calhoun's boyfriend told her to take the Halls Mills Road exit to evade the Impala.

As Mustafa passed them, he fired a shot at the car and then continued on Route 33, the report states.

The shot hit Calhoun in the head, it says. 

She was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:46 a.m. Her boyfriend and the child were not injured.

Mustafa was arrested the following morning in Manalapan.

Authorities are investigating the possibility he's responsible for two non-fatal shootings in Neptune Township and Holmdel on April 27 and 28, respectively. In those cases, a gunman randomly opened fire at occupied vehicles but did not injure any occupants.

Police seized two handguns from Mustafa's vehicle when he was arrested.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni told NJ Advance Media that his office doesn't have any reason to believe Mustafa legally owned the guns that were seized.

Authorities have said they are ballistically testing the guns to see if there are any links.

First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said at a press conference on Friday that detectives are "confident" there's no connection between the Freehold shooting and the highway shooting on Route 18 in Colts Neck in which Lloyd Earl Sanders was killed.

Mustafa, who's charged with murder, attempted murder and two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, is scheduled to appear in Monmouth County Superior Court Wednesday morning for a detention hearing.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Ex-federal agent accused of trying to kill teen with car released from jail

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The 16-year-old boy was dating Vicky Smith's adult daughter. Smith is accused of intentionally hitting the teen with a car on April 30

A former federal agent accused of trying to kill a New Jersey teenage boy who was dating her adult daughter has been released from jail and put on electronic monitoring.

Vicky Smith, of Wall, is charged with attempted murder and weapons offenses stemming from an April 30 confrontation at her home in Wall. Monmouth County prosecutors say she intentionally struck the 16-year-old boy with her car following a fight between her husband and the teen.

Prosecutors wanted to keep Smith detained, saying she posed a danger to the community. Her attorney disagreed, citing her service as an agent with the Internal Revenue Service who also had been assigned to Secret Service details.

Authorities say the confrontation occurred when the teen arrived to take Smith's 20-year-old daughter to stay with him for a few days.

 

Ex-owner of N.J. gymnastics school indicted on child porn charge

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The 53-year-old Freehold Township man faces up to 5 years in prison

The former owner of a New Jersey gymnastics school has been indicted on a child pornography charge.

Ronald J. Charles, 53, of Freehold Township, faces up to five years in prison if he is convicted of endangering the welfare of a child for possession of child pornography, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement Tuesday.

Charles was arrested in December 2015 after authorities received a tip that he tried to send multiple images of child pornography using his personal email address, authorities said.

Sex offender who molested child pleads guilty in 2nd child porn case

Investigators obtained a search warrant, seized a computer from his home and found the images, authorities said. He posted $40,000 bail and his since been free. 

Charles owned the now-defunct Galaxy Gymnastics in Freehold Township.

"We're prepared to vigorously fight the charge," Charles' attorney' Eric Nelson said. "By his plea of not guilty, he denies the charge."

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

 

N.J. live local election results May 2018

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Unofficial results for races in 18 New Jersey municipalities holding local elections May 8.

Here are the towns with the lowest property taxes in each of N.J.'s 21 counties

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Looking for property tax bargains? These towns had the lowest average property tax bills in each of New Jersey's 21 counties.

These are N.J.'s top 23 high schools, as rated by U.S. News

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Find out which schools rank in the top 500 nationally.

NJ.com baseball Top 20, May 9: 4 public schools push toward the top

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Public school programs have taken up four of the top eight spots in the NJ.com Top 20 for May 9

Best of the best: NJ.com's boys lacrosse 2018 Player of the Year watchlist

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Which players are leading the pack around the state in 2018?

Wawa sued after N.J. 3-year-old gets severely scalded in hot tea mishap

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Carl and Roya Konzman claim hot water from a Wawa dispensing machine left their 3-year-old with severe burns

The water from Wawa was so hot that when it spilled on her, the 3-year-old girl looked like she'd be burned by chemical weapons, according to New Jersey attorney David Mazie.

That's the chief complaint contained in a federal lawsuit filed this week on behalf of a Neptune couple who claim their daughter was seriously injured after a Wawa clerk spilled boiling water on her.

"She looked like she had been napalmed," Mazie said Wednesday. "It was so bad that her skin fused to her clothing."

Carl and Roya Konzman claim they were at the Neptune Wawa on April 25 buying food and two cups of hot water for tea, which they poured from a hot-water dispensing machine.

As they paid for the items, a store bagging clerk knocked over a water bottle, which in turn knocked over one of the cups of hot water, according to the complaint, filed Monday in U.S. District Court by Roseland attorneys Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman.

"The cup immediately burst, causing its top to come off and hot water to splash all over (the child's) upper body, arms and torso," the lawsuit states.

Winning lottery ticket bought in Monmouth County

The girl, identified only as "N.K.," was taken by ambulance to a Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, which has a burn unit.

Mazie said the burns were so severe that paramedics wanted to airlift the girl, but it was too foggy for a helicopter to fly.

The child suffered second and third-degree burns and could be scarred for life, the suit states.

The lawsuit claims the child's mother witnessed the accident and has suffered "severe and permanent emotional distress" as a result.

While the store clerk was negligent in spilling the water, the Wawa chain is responsible for both its employees and the temperature of the water, the suit alleges.

"Wawa was aware of the fact that the hot water machine dispensed water at a highly dangerous temperature and that the water would cause severe burns if spilled on flesh," Mazzie states in the suit.

"Despite being aware of this danger, Wawa kept the water at such a dangerously high temperature and acted recklessly and with wanton and disregard for the safety of its patrons," the suit states.

The attorney said after the child was burned his investigators tested water at the Neptune Wawa and several others.

The water temperature at the store was 180 degrees while other Wawa water tested at 190 degrees, Mazie said.

"Shower water is no more than 104 degrees - that's the max," Mazie said. "At 150 degrees, water will burn you in a second. There is no need for water to be this hot."

Mazie accused the chain of overheating its water so customers who buy coffee and tea will still have a hot beverage "15 minutes after they leave the store."

"By heating your water to 180 degrees you are guaranteed someone will be burned if it spills," Mazie said.

The lawsuit seeks more than $150,000 in damages.

In an email, Wawa spokeswoman Lori Bruce released the following statement: 

"Although we can't comment on the specifics of the allegations in the lawsuit, we can say that we are devastated by this unfortunate accident, and our hearts go out to the child and her family."

Hot-water lawsuits have become somewhat common since the 1992 landmark case involving a 79-year-old woman who suffered third-degree burns after accidentally spilling hot coffee in her lap from McDonald's.

Attorneys for the woman, Stella Liebeck, claimed the water at 180 to 190 degrees was too hot. Liebeck was awarded $640,000.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Say good-bye to the Circus Drive-In. Jersey Shore landmark demolished

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The future of a popular drive-in restaurant that was torn down Wednesday is up in the air Watch video

A longtime Jersey Shore landmark is no more..

The Circus Drive-In Diner, a Wall Township establishment known for its iconic clown sign visible off of Route-35 was demolished Wednesday morning. Open for more than 60 years, the restaurant offered its customers a throwback-style of service by serving hamburgers, hot dogs, and other summer favorites car side with a window attachment to place the food.

According to real estate transactions, the 1.64-acre property was sold to Circus Partners, LLC for $1.75 million. According to the corporate filings, the agent listed is Richard Roccesano, who according to Loopnet.com, is the Executive Vice President of Rock Investments. A subsidiary of Rock Investments is Rock Asset Management.

Calls to Rock Asset Management were not returned to NJ Advance Media. However, according to the company's website, the property is "available for ground lease or small strip shopping center."

Former customers who went to the drive-in location shared their experiences on Facebook.

"It was just a normal Wednesday until I look to my left," said Keven Mendez. "Then I realize the building they just destroyed was my favorite drive-in diner around me. They finally tore down the circus. Although the building is gone, the memories will still be there. And their food for me was always amazing. Thanks for the memories."

According to the Wall Township Land Use Department, no plans have been submitted for the site. There is no information yet if a business has signed a lease for the property.

Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews. Find NJ.com on FacebookHave a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Trenton-area man indicted for selling heroin dose that killed Shore resident

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Its one of a string of recent cases of "strict liability for drug-induced death," or dealing drugs that kill those who used them.

A Monmouth County grand jury has indicted a Mercer County man on charges he sold a Howell Township man the heroin that killed him last year.

John R. Varra, 50, who was arrested last year a few days after the death, was indicted on one count of strict liability for a drug-induced death for the May 1, 2017 sale of the dose led to the death of a 31-year-old Howell Township man two days later, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office announced.

The 31-year-old man's wife called police just after midnight on May 3, 2017 when she found him unresponsive in their bedroom. Emergency responders tried to revive him with naloxone -- an opioid overdose reversal drug -- but the efforts were unsuccessful.

Police began investigating the source of the man's heroin, and arrested Varra in Howell Township later the same day, officials said. He also faces a third-degree heroin possession and distribution charges as well.

He was not in police custody as of Wednesday.

Varra - who has a Trenton mailing address, but records show he lives in the Ewing -  is one of several New Jerseyans recently charged with for selling a deadly dose of heroin.

21-year-old man from Burlington County was recently charged after selling to a 15-year-old girl who died by overdose. The man allegedly searching the internet for ways to get people addicted to heroin, googling "I want to get a girl addicted to heroin."

And a 25-year-old Camden dealer was recently found guilty during trial for selling the heroin that killed a 35-year-old Burlington County man. 

Varra currently faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in state prison without parole and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if found guilty during a trial, prosecutors said. 

Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.comFollow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

Thousands of cops ride bikes to D.C. to honor fallen officers. Photos from around N.J.

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Images of the Police Unity Tour 2018 from around New Jersey

Vintage photos from N.J. that deserve a closer look

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Sometimes a double-take isn't enough.

In the 1984 film "Revenge of the Nerds," the character Booger, played by Curtis Armstrong, is a college student who loves to eat and isn't particularly concerned about appearances. He wears a Greasy Tony's T-shirt in the film, with the slogan "No charge for extra grease" clearly visible.

courtesy jay riback revenge of the nerds.jpg 

The original Greasy Tony's restaurant was located at the intersection of Easton Avenue and Somerset Street in New Brunswick. I saw the movie shortly after it came out. At the time, I was living in New Brunswick. Still, I didn't notice the shirt.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

Photographs, like films, often have interesting elements that go unnoticed. Sometimes, a second look reveals something interesting, unique, humorous or unusual. Sometimes, a closer look at a picture leads to more questions than answers.

Here's a gallery of vintage photos from New Jersey you'll want to take a closer look at. And here are links to other similar galleries you'll enjoy.

Vintage photos from N.J. that might make you do a double-take

Vintage N.J. photos that deserve a second look

More vintage N.J. photos that deserve a second look

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook.

Creepy sex offender followed girls, made sexual comments at Walmart, Target, cops say

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A tier 3 registered sex offender was arrested Wednesday after allegedly following mothers and their young daughters around Target, T.J. Maxx and Walmart in Howell

A convicted sex offender has been charged with creeping up to women and their young daughters as they shopped at Howell stores including Target and Walmart and making sexually explicit comments in four separate incidents, police said.

David F. Hohsfield, 62, of Whiting, pretended to be talking on his Bluetooth ear piece while making the vulgar comments and followed one mom and her daughter into a girl's swimsuit section of a store, police said.

HowellSexOffender2.jpg David F. Hohsfield, 62, of Whiting (Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Police) 

Hohsfield is a tier 3 registered sex offender, the most serious level in New Jersey, according to the state's New Jersey State Police Sex Offender Internet Registry, and has been arrested three times in three different counties from 1997 to 2009 for approaching victims and trying to lure them into his car.

He was charged with sexual assault in Bergen County in 1997 and endangering the welfare of a child in Middlesex County in 2002 and in Ocean County in 2009, according to the registry.

Police were called on Friday to the Target store on Route 9 in Howell where a mother and her 12-year-old daughter reported they were being followed by a man, later identified as Hohsfield, in the children's swimsuit section, police said.

He had made sexually explicit comments while pretending to talk on his Bluetooth cell phone earpiece, police said.

The girl alerted her mother and they contacted security, but Hohsfield had already left the store, police said.

Another woman told Howell police she was at a T.J. Maxx store in the adjoining shopping plaza Friday with her 11-year-old daughter when she heard a man, later identified as Hohsfield, making sexually explicit and vulgar comments.

Authorities say two more separate incidents occurred on Monday at the Howell Walmart and Target where two women and their daughters, ages 8 and 12, were followed around the stores by Hohsfield while he made sexually explicit comments.

One of the incidents was reported Monday on a closed Howell Happenings Facebook group and other concerns of similar incidents quickly followed:

"He kept following us around the store until my mom decided to see where he is going," the post said. "Then we seem him walking up to another little girl and distracted mom in the women's section. We warned the mom and manager and she said he was there the other day and kept getting complaints on him and he apparently got kicked out last time he was hiding near the bathrooms and as we left he started walking back to the kids section!"

Hohsfield faces eight counts of harassment in the four incidents. The charge are considered fourth degree due to his status as a parolee, police said.

Anyone who experienced a similar incident may contact Howell Police Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez at cantunez@howellpolice.org, Det. Janet Benitez at jbenitez@howellpolice.org or by calling Howell Police headquarters at 732-938-4111.

Information can also be given on the Howell Police Department's Facebook Messenger or its anonymous tip service at www.p3tips.com

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 
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