Man who bludegoned, dismembered mistress sentenced to 25 years

A Delaware man who murdered his mistress and dumped her body in the Atlantic Ocean because he could not afford to take care of two families was sentenced to 25 years in prison with 85% to serve for aggravated manslaughter. Rosario DiGirolamo, now 36, was sentenced in a Trenton, NJ courtroom yesterday for beating Amy Giordano, his 27 year old mistress, with a hammer, cutting her body into pieces, and burying Amy's body in a pond. The killing took place June 7, 2007. DiGirolamo plead guilty to aggravated manslaughter on January 3, 2011, when his $1 million bail, which his parents put up, was revoked.

DiGirolamo was seeing Amy when she lived in Hightstown, N.J, and he and his wife, Maria DiMaggio, lived in Millstone Township. DiGirolamo was putting Amy up in a $850 per month apartment apartment.

DiGirolamo claimed that his mistress lunged at him with a hammer after an argument over money and Giordano was threatening to  expose their affair, but Superior Court Judge Edward Neafsey pointed out that DiGirolamo searched "lethal karate blows to the back of the head...He studied how to do this and learned his lesson well,” Neafsey said. “What the vicious nature of the crime showed was his anger for the victim and his decision to eradicate her, totally eliminate her, from his life.”

The case did not just make New Jersey headlines, but Delaware's headlines, since two days after the killing, DiGirolamo and Amy's baby Michael DiGirolamo, then 11 months, off at a hospital in Delaware with a note stating "Please help my baby John Vincent I can no longer take care of him. Lost job, lost medical. God have mercy on me."

DiGirolamo was charged with murder in March 2008 after his former best friend became a government witness. John A. Russo Jr. told prosecutors that DiGirolamo had told him of plans to kill the 27-year-old Giordano because he couldn't afford two families. On June 4 or 5, 2007, Russo told prosecutors, DiGirolamo bought a reciprocating saw, garbage bags and drain cleaner at a Lowe's store that Russo managed, and on June 8 confided that he had killed Giordano.

Three days after DiGirolamo's arrest in March 2008, Russo took authorities to a pond near his Staten Island, N.Y., home where had led DiGirolamo on June 9, 2007. That day DiGirolamo threw a suitcase containing Giordano's body parts into the water, and drove to Delaware to get rid of their son.

Russo, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor evidence tampering, was sentenced in December under New Jersey's pretrial intervention program for first-time offenders to three years of supervision and 50 hours of community service.

Though prosecutors let DiGirolamo plead guilty to a lesser charge -- a murder conviction could have brought him 30 years to life in prison -- Assistant Prosecutor Al Garcia said after the sentencing that they never believed the victim provoked DiGirolamo. Garcia said the deal was cut because key witnesses had not always been honest with investigators, which could have undermined their credibility before a jury.

Garcia said about the victim,“She was with the man she loved. She was with her son. On that day Amy thought she was going to start a new life. She thought she was going to get a new job and a new apartment. But the defendant destroyed those dreams.” 

Just before sentencing, Judge Neafsey berated the defendant, saying about the dismemberment, "Even in death you did not give dignity to Amy Giordano...The time to show remorse and regret was after you killed her, not on your judgment day.”

Garcia said afterwards, "Justice was served, because he came into court and pled guilty. Usually they don't come in and plead guilty for 25 years.''

Marsha Kaller-Apter sent a latter to the court describing how the killing of her sister affected her life. Part of the letter stated  "There is a spot in my life that can't be filled...That was Amy's spot...I don't know what you were thinking and to tell you the truth I don't really care. You killed my sister and left my nephew for dead. HOW CAN YOU DO THAT!!!??? ... How can you even think of hurting someone so small and sweet.''

Jerome Ballarotto stated that before the internet search evidence, his client intended to go to trial, but now he'll appeal. "But considering that the judge was going to allow the jury to see that evidence, my client made a decision not to take the risk of a jury finding him guilty of planning to kill her.”

[Assistant Prosecutor Thomas]Meidt said the sentence marks the closure of one of the longest investigations in the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

“It’s very satisfying,” Meidt said. “Sometimes you work a case for a long time and never solve it. This is a case where all the hard work paid off and we got a good disposition on it.”

Michael Girolamo was adopted by a relative on his father's side in 2008.

Passaic, NJ man gets LWOP for ax murder of wife

A Passaic, New Jersey man was sentenced to life without parole Tuesday, October 12 for the ax murder of his wife as she ran from her own home onto a street. What made the attack worse was that the victim, Luisa Emilia Chireno, was killed as her children cowered in terror in their room. Police were able to follow a trail of hair and blood, left as the murdered struck the victi in the back with an ax and pulled out her hair.

[34-year-old Fernando] Chireno was convicted of murder in June, after jurors rejected his insanity defense. The victim, who was 26 when she died, had a restraining order against him because of past domestic violence. She ran for her life from her Myrtle Avenue home on April 18, 2008, after Chireno broke in. The couple's children were left in the bedroom as Mrs. Chireno was stabbed 15 times and left in a pool of blood on the street. She died a short time later in surgery.

Before sentencing, Chireno "apologized " to the victim's mother, Carlita Pozo. “From the deepness of my heart, I am sorry. I lost my mind. I was having problems and no one was helping me. I know nothing is going to give you your daughter back, but I, too, lost her. Please, I ask from my heart that you forgive me.”

Judge Reddin issued this statement while handing down the LWOP sentence. “It boggles my mind to think that a human being could do to another human being what he did to Luisa Chireno This was not a spur-of-the-moment attack. He went out and bought the ax. He goes to her house at 2 in the morning. He ripped the hair right out of her head. That’s the savagery of this crime, He buried that ax in her back, and he walked away from the scene.”

Pozo fainted after the sentencing and had to be led out of the courtroom.

Female swim coach charged with sexual abuse of 17 year old girl pleads guilty, sentenced to year in jail

(Original Post 12-6-09)
Sarah Blessing, a 27 year old South Plainfield, NJ woman who is a 5th grade teacher and Edison, NJ swim coach, was charged Wednesday, December 2 with sexually exploiting a 17 year old swim student at Bishop George Ahr High School. Blessing was formally charged with sexual assault, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a girl, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan and Edison police chief Thomas Bryan.

The relationship lasted for 6 months, from June to her arrest, according to officials, and was found out when Diocese of Metuchen officials notified Edison police. The Metuchen Dioscese fired Blessing from her swim coach job, a job she held for four years. "The Diocese and Bishop Ahr High School is shocked and saddened to learn of these allegations," officials said in a statement [December 1, 2009]. We, of course, take matters of this nature very seriously."

Blessing , a 5th grade teacher at Park Middle School in Scotch Plains, was suspended from that job pending the outcome of her case. She is being held on $150,000 bond without a cash option at the Middlesex County Jail in North Brunswick. Superior Court Judge James Mulvihill has ordered that Blessing not contact her victim.

Authorities ask that anybody with information about Blessing call Investigator Raj Chopra of the prosecutor’s office at (732) 745-3600, or Edison police detectives Michael Michalski or Tim Farrell at (732) 248-7525.

(Update 8-6-10) Blessing plead guilty yesterday to criminal sexual contact and witness tampering in front of MIddlesex County Judge Judge Joseph Paone, according to prosecutors. She must forfeit her teaching certificate and the right to hold public sector jobs in New Jersey. Blessing must also undergo mental health treatment and have no contact with the victim or girls under 18 without supervision.

She is expected to be sentenced to a year in jail when Judge Paone formally sentences Blessing on September 30.

(Update 10-2-10) Blessing was sentenced to 364 days in jail and 5 years probation September 30, 2010 by Judge Paone. At the sentencing hearing,  Assistant Middlesex County Prosecutor Christie Bevacqua said that Blessing met the victim during a troubled period for the girl. The victim's mother asked Blessing to "watch out for her," but instead Blessing "took my daughter's innocence away." ""The betrayal of trust is a huge thing here," said Bevacqua.

Before the sentencing Blessing read a statement saying "I wasn't manipulative. It wasn't predatory. I had feelings for this person."

Blessing will not be allowed to have any contact with the victim or any unsupervised contact with females under the age of 18 and must undergo mental health counseling. Under the sentence, she can no longer teach and will be barred from holding public employment in New Jersey.

Blessing faced a maximum sentence of a decade behind bars. Criminal sexual contact is a felony which lands one on the sex offender list for life under New Jersey's Megan's Law.

Taken from a New Jersey lawyer's site:

Criminal sexual contact is a third degree charge and if a person is convicted of this crime they will face 3 to 5 years in prison, and serious fines. Additionally, the person will be required to register under New Jersey's Megan's law which is a lifelong notification system in which the local community where the offender lives is provided with his personal information and details about the crime for which he was convicted.

Bayonne serial rapist sentenced to 35 years imprisonment

A Bayonne, NJ man was sentenced to 35 years in prison last week, Friday August 6 for a series of sexual attacks on women in late 2001 and early 2002. The attacker, Nealson Connell, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in a Jersey City, NJ courtroom, the maximum sentenced he faced under a plea deal. Connell was caught in August 2008 after his DNA was run through the FBI's CODIS database and found to match the DNA of the attacker in the rapes. He plead guilty March 24, 2010 to four counts of rape (aggravated sexual assault under New Jersey's criminal code.

On Sept. 12, 2001, the day after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a now 50-year-old woman was attacked at about 5 a.m. in Journal Square as she walked to the PATH station, Rana said. On Jan. 7, 2002, he raped a now 27-year-old woman in Journal Square as she walked to the PATH station.

Three days later, on Jan. 10, 2002, he sexually assaulted a woman who is now 54 on Kennedy Boulevard near West 24th Street in Bayonne as she walked home from a public laundry, Rana said. She was dragged into the parking garage at Midtown Community School and attacked.

Perhaps the most violent attack was on Feb. 17, 2002, in an industrial area of Newark Connell grabbed a woman on her way to a movie theater and dragged her into a truck yard. Hidden between two trucks, he punched her in the face multiple times before sexually assaulting the woman, who is now 34, Rana said.

Some of the victims were in court during sentencing. The victim of Connell's last attack said that "Even in church, I'm fearful of people behind me waiting to receive communion." A second victim said that "I want him to pay for what he has done. I don't know why he did this to us." A third victim read a letter saying that she "can still feel the repeated bashing of a rock against my face. As I pleaded for my life and said, 'I can't breathe,' he hit me again and I thought I was going to die."
 
Hudson County Judge Joseph Isabella said that  the crimes Connell committed were the worst he's seen during a decade on the bench. "These are horrific, horrific crimes that have devastated the lives of four women -- horrific. He is a complete sociopath. He certainly does not belong walking in the streets of this community. He beat them mercilessly and raped them. In my 10 years, I have seen a lot but I don't think I've seen worse than this."

Prison teacher's aide charged with sexual activity with inmates

A teacher's assistant who had 6 years on the job at a New Jersey prison for sex offenders was charged with 5 counts of sexual assault, official misconduct, and drug distribution.  Joy R. Black, 32 of Irvington, NJ was charged with incidents at the East Jersey State Prison in Avenel, NJ which occured between November 2009 and June 2010, according to investigation. Black allegedly had sex with 5 inmates in prison classrooms and smuggled marijuana and cocaine inside the prison for use by two of those inmates.

Black has worked at the prison in the Avenel section of Woodbridge since June 12, 2004. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Sgt. Randi Colatrella or Investigator Melissa Terpanick of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745-3600, or senior investigators Chris Birardi or Kevin Koch of the Special Investigations Unit of the prison at (732) 499-5003.Woodbridge police assisted in the investigation.

Black was arrested at the prison June 30, 2010 and is currently facing a decade in prison, sex offender registration for life, and a lifetime ban on New Jersey public employment. She is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.

Bagel shop attacker sentenced to 27 3/4 years in prison

A man who molested a 19 year old woman outside a bagel shop and exposed himself to 3 other victims was sentenced to 27 3/4 years behind bars in a New Jersey courtroom Monday, December 14. Andrew Pena, a 42 year old carpenter, attacked the woman in the parking lot of G&A bagels on January 28, 2007. Pena was convicted in 1 hour 15 minutes of aggravated sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, criminal restraint and burglary by a jury on August 10, 2009.

The assault occurred at about 3:15 a.m. when the woman waited inside a car parked near the bagel shop as her friends went inside. A man sweeping outside told the woman she couldn’t park there and directed her to the back of the building, where the attack occurred.

The prosecution noted during its case that the victim had picked Pena out of a lineup. It also said a fingerprint from her vehicle was a match to Pena and that a footprint matched his shoe. Pena also had told police he was at the scene and told the woman to move the car, but claimed he had nothing to do with the attack. Rather, he said, police wrongly charged him and never investigated others.

Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Meg Rodriguez, who argued for consecutive sentencing on all five counts, said the Butler attack was an escalation, as Pena had been convicted in Wayne in 2002 and Paramus in 2003 of lewdness for exposing his genitals to two different women in store parking lots.

The victim, in her impact statement told how the attack left her scared, scarred, and unable to drive either alone or at night. "I fear for my life that when the defendant gets out of jail he will find me and seek revenge."

Besides the prison term, Pena will have to pay $3380 in fines and penalties, and will be evaluated at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center to see if he can be treated there.

Newark, NJ rapist gets 19 years for attacking gas station clerk

Kyle S. Lyons, 23, of Newark, NJ, was sentenced to 19 years in prison and status as a Tier 3 New Jersey sex offender Friday, October 30 for raping a gas station clerk last year.

Lyon plead guilty to two counts of rape, a first-degree felony; attempted rape, a second-degree felony; kidnapping, a first-degree felony with a sexual motivation specification; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

On Nov. 5, 2008, Lyons walked into Gas America, 814 Mount Vernon Road, where the victim was working as a store clerk, under the pretense of needing to use the phone, Licking County Assistant Prosecutor Dan Huston said.

Lyons left, then returned, dragging the victim by the arm and throat into the gas station's bathroom, where he tried to force her to perform oral sex, Huston said. Lyons told her if she did not cooperate, he would kill her, but she still tried to wrestle away, Huston said.

 Lyons then grabbed both her ankles, pulling her to the ground, where he forced himself on her, Huston said.
After the rape, Lyons told her to "fix herself up," apologized and left, Huston said. Lyons then burned the shirt he was wearing during the attack and discarded other clothing in a dog-food bag, he said.

Licking County Common Pleas Court Judge Jon Spahr imposed sentence after consulting with the victim, police, and others. Huston said that while Lyons showed signs of mental illness, they were not major enough to prevent senteicing on the sentencing date. "He made a conscious choice to inflict pain and anguish on (the victim)," Huston said.
 
The victim read a statement to the court describing how the crime affected her, her fiance, and her family. "What you chose to do to me that night has changed who I am, but you did not break me. Because I am a survivor and not your victim, I went back to my place of employment and went on with my life. I still have a long way to go, and so much to heal, but I am not a quitter or a loser, like you."

"No sentence the court hands down can ease the pain or make things right," Judge Spahr said. Lyons' defense attorney, Andrew Sanderson, said that he hoped his client would take advantage of treatment programs and family support while in prison.

Mother sues over bus driver's sex abuse of daughter

Mother of mentally challenged woman sues bus driver accused of fondling her daughter
by Jennifer Golson/The Star-Ledger

Sunday August 16, 2009, 12:30 PM

HUNTERDON COUNTY -- The mother of a mentally challenged Hunterdon County woman is suing the bus driver accused of fondling her daughter on several occasions and the man's former employer.

The complaint, filed recently in Superior Court in Flemington, accuses Califon resident Gary Sherratt, 69, of inflicting emotional distress and battery for abuse the then-28-year-old woman allegedly suffered between late 2007 and the first five months of 2008, on her way home from a job training program. Her name is being withheld by The Star-Ledger because she is an alleged victim of sexual assault.

Easton Coach Co. is accused of negligence for failing to investigate Sherratt before hiring him, according to the lawsuit filed by Phillipsburg-based attorney Edward Glynn on behalf of the victim's mother.

Easton has a contract with the county and transports individuals with disabilities, such as the alleged victim, the lawsuit states.

The victim functions on the level of a 12-year-old, Glynn said. She told her mother about the alleged abuse, and the mother notified authorities, the lawyer said.

Sherratt "basically sexually molested a mentally incompetent person," Glynn said in a telephone interview. "This happened a number of times, where he would take everybody else to their residences and drop them off, and he would have to go out of his way to do it," ensuring that the victim was the last passenger, the lawyer said.

Sherratt called the claims "absolutely false."

"I was the least likely to have done it," he said.

Sherratt was charged with one count of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual contact, said Hunterdon County Assistant Prosecutor Brian Shevlin, who represented the state. Authorities narrowed the time period for the alleged assaults to between March 1 and May 28, 2008. Sherratt did not plead guilty, but he was admitted into the pretrial intervention program for two years.

Sherratt said he only applied for PTI because his lawyer advised him to, "on the assumption that it could go either way, because of the circumstances."

Joe Scott, president and chief executive officer of the company based in Easton, Pa., said company officials are aware of the situation. He declined comment on the lawsuit, saying he has not seen it.

The 7-year-old company has several public contracts working with transportation authorities or county agencies, Scott said.

Once they learned of the investigation, "our standard procedure is to take him out of service, with a complaint of that type and magnitude," he said. Sherratt was suspended with pay during the investigation, which lasted about six months.

Sherratt no longer works for the busing company, Scott said, and it is unclear what will happen after he completes the PTI program. "He's not officially terminated, but we would not employ somebody who was in that type of program," Scott said.

Easton is still the road operator for Hunterdon County's Community Transportation system, the LINK, said Pamela Pontrelli, county human services administrator. Hunterdon paid them about $2.7 million in 2008.

The victim was one of the passengers with disabilities whom Sherratt transported to a day program in Flemington, according to the lawsuit. On various occasions, he "inappropriately and illegally" touched the victim, committing battery, the lawsuit states.

The victim "sustained psychological harm and injuries, severe emotional distress and other injuries of a severe nature, requiring extensive treatment/counseling," the lawsuit says.

Easton Coach "was negligent in failing to investigate defendant, Gary Sherratt, prior to hiring him, failing to monitor his actions while on the job, failing to properly supervise him while on the job, failing to investigate him after hiring him, and was otherwise generally negligent in allowing Gary Sherratt to become involved in circumstances and settings where he was able to accomplish the illegal and improper acts," the lawsuit says.

Old Bridge HS drama teacher pleads guilty to sexual abuse of 17 year old student

(Original Post 6-4-09)

Lisa Glide plead guilty in a New Brunswick, NJ courtroom June 2 to the sexual abuse of a 17 year old student she had a relationship with. The 35 year old former Old Bridge High School drama teacher agreed in Superior Court Judge Frederick De Vesa's courtroom to mental health counseling, to no unsupervised contact with boys, and to give up her teaching license and any other chance of public employment in New Jersey.

Glide faces up to 364 days in the Middlesex County Jail and 5 years probation when she is sentenced in August. Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Christie Bevacqua stated the 17 year old victim was agreeing to the plea deal so he would not have to testify at a trial.

Glide, who organized the high school's plays, was arrested in December. She began teaching at the high school in September 2004 and was suspended after her arrest. The relationship with the student took place between February and May of last year.

Before working for Old Bridge, Glide was employed with the Marlboro Township schools from 2001 to 2004, and worked for Jersey City schools from 2000 to 2001, authorities said. She began her teaching career as a substitute in Weehawken in 1999 and 2000.

She was earning $50,943 annually as a teacher in Old Bridge. She majored in theater at Montclair State University and studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute.

In a December 2005 article in The Suburban, a weekly newspaper in Old Bridge, Glide said she appeared on the soap operas "One Life to Live" and "All My Children," and was on an episode of the television drama, "Dawson's Creek." She gave the interview after directing the high school's production of Neil Simon's "Plaza Suite."

In New Jersey, the usual AOC is 16, but rises to 18 when a teacher/student relationship is involved. Even after 18, teacher/student sex can be punished by criminal official misconduct charges.

(Update 8-12-09) On Monday, August 10, Glide was sentenced to 5 years probation by Superior Court Judge Frederick De Vesa. While the Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Prosecutor Christie Bevacqua wanted 364 days in jail, De Vesa cited depression and cancer that Glide suffered from as factors in the lack of incarceration. Two mental health professionals stated that a term of incarceration for Glide could be life threatening.

Another factor in leniency included a letter from the victim, who is now a college sophomore. He stated that the incident "was blown out of proportion."

The victim said "I was 17 1/2 at the time and very able to take care of myself," and added he did not feel as if he was a victim. In fact, he said "I was the initiator," and admitted Glide refused his advances, but he pursued her, even looking up her address on the Internet and making an unannounced visit to her home.

Bevacqua's push for the maximum sentence was because "it is against the law for teachers to have sex with their students...it was her burden to stop this. She was the adult in this situation."
Glide is not only barred from teaching, but also barred from any public sector job in New Jersey.

South Jersey teacher guilty of indecent liberties with 16 year old boy

A Westampton, NJ teacher's aide faces 5 to 10 years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a 16 year old boy who she met at detention. The 6 man and 6 woman jury deliberated for 3 hours before finding Donna Goebel, 45, guilty of having sex with a student she met in her health class at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year in the Burlington County Special Services School.

During the trial, the teenager testified he had a normal student-teacher relationship with Goebel, but in January 2008 they began calling and text messaging each other. Soon, he said, they were exchanging "I love you, babe" text messages and taking trips to the mall and Atlantic City. He stayed overnight at her house and had sex "two or three times" in his bedroom, the teen testified.

Burlington County Assistant Prosecutors Kevin Morgan and Daniel Rosenberg argued that Goebel and the teen had consensual sex, but that it was illegal because of her status and supervisory role at the school.

In New Jersey, the AOC is 16 as long as there isn't a supervisory or custodial relationship. Even so, teachers who had sex with their 18 year old students have forfeited their teaching certificates after being charged and convicted on official misconduct charges.

Goebel testified that while she never had sex with the boy, the relationship she had was inappropriate because of her status as an adult and as a mother. She blamed her husband for bringing "false charges" against her after finding pictures of her and the teen in locations including the bedroom and shower.

The teen testified that Goebel made calls to the boy asking him to recant his statements to police and the boy agreed so that Goebel would leave his family alone.

Jurors heard a taped conversation of Goebel and the boy during which she advised him that he could tell police about being at her house but also to "just don't say that part." Also, she asked him if he had changed his sheets "since then."

Defense attorney Mark Fury argued for Goebel to remain free on bail, saying she did not pose any threat to the community or the victim. He said she is a first-time offender who may serve only a year or two in prison because the sentence is not subject to parole ineligibility.

"This is not a violent crime," Fury said, noting that Goebel had family support and no place to flee. He said revoking her bail would be "just plain mean."

Morley doubled bond from $75,000 to $150,000 because Goebel may leave Burlington County to live with family, and also because "I need some added surety. There's been a monumental shift with the return of the verdict."

Goebel is being held at the Minimum Security Facility in Pemberton until sentencing, scheduled for October 18.

Teacher gropes 19 year old woman, released on bail

A 60 year old New Jersey teacher has been charged with 4th degree criminal sexual contact with fondling a 19 year old woman. North Warren Regional High School Spanish teacher Walter J. Brandt was arrested after apologizing to a 19 year old woman for fondling her breasts.

The alleged contact occurred [March 31] in Brandt's home, court records show. The 19-year-old victim went to authorities, who recorded a subsequent conversation between her and Brandt with her consent, according to court records.

Authorities arrested Brandt on [April 1]. Independence Township police asked that the Warren County Prosecutor's Office handle the investigation because he is a former township official. He served on the Independence Township Committee from Jan. 1, 1997, through 2005.

Brandt, employed with the school since Noverber 1998, was suspended with pay from his $56,025 / year job April 1, according to North Warren Regional Superintendent Brian Fogelson. Judge John Pursel of Superior Court in Belvidere heard his preliminary hearing, where he was released on bail under conditions including no contact with the victim or any minors.

Teacher who texted students for sexual purposes must face charges, appellate court says

A woman who was a teacher at a New Jersey school must stand trial on official misconduct charges for offering herself for sex with 16 and 17 year old students at her school who were not her students. Karen Binder, 44, faces 10 years in prison and a $150,000 fine for the charges, which according to a New Jersey appellate court, were illegally dropped.

Karen Binder, 44, of Manalapan was arrested in March 2007 after authorities said the parents of a 17-year-old student told school officials that she sent their son a text message expressing her interest in having sex with him.

The boy told investigators that over a two-day period Binder sent him more than 100 text messages and proposed having sex with his brother and his father as well as himself, according to the Applellate Division's opinion.

The other victim, 16 and a student at the high school, was discovered during the investigation, authorities said. Binder also convinced the boy to send her explicit and revealing pictures of himself, according to the opinion.

Binder, whose previous conviction was for a DUI summons, was charged with official misconduct in July 2007. She was rejected from a pre-trial intervention program by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and a court clerk because of her refusal to take a drug test and other considerations.

However, Superior Court Judge Barbara Stolte overulled them both and allowed Binder to participate in the diversion program focusing on the drug test, but a panel of three judges reversed Stolte's decision, stating that Stolte focused on the drug test, but not the other issues which prosecutors accounted for.

Part of the ruling is shown below.

"...the judge's conclusion that "the best way of dealing with the defendant's behavior is through intensive counseling and supervision" rather than through criminal prosecution was not hers to make.... The judge reweighed the proofs and reanalyzed the statutory factors as if she, rather than the prosecutor, was the person entrusted with the sensitive prosecutorial decision that is at stake whenever a diversion decision is being made... the judge's discussion of the deference due a prosecutor's decision was, in the end, little more than lip service.''

Binder's attorney Jacqueline Boulos stated "While we respect the Appellate Division's ruling, of course we disagree with it.''

New Jersey murder leads to 55 year sentence for "boyfriend"

Boyce Singleton Jr, 29, who killed his pregnant girlfriend Michelle Cazan, 38 of Mansfield, was sentenced to 55 years in prison by Burlington County, NJ, Judge Patricia R. LeBon for the murder. He put on an insanity defense, claiming that God wanted her dead because she would not folow his beliefs, but that defense was rejected. Lebon rejected that defense and a request for a new trial, because Singleton claimed there was not a fair trial.

“This is a senseless act that is hard to explain under any circumstance,” LeBon said, calling the evidence in the case “graphic and chilling.”

Singleton admitted he shot and stabbed Cazan multiple times after the two had argued for hours and she refused to give him her car keys so he could leave her house in Mansfield.
Singleton, however, testified that he killed her because he believed God wanted her dead because she was “evil.” He said he knew she was evil because Cazan did not want to follow his extreme religious beliefs, including rejecting money and living in the woods with their unborn child.

Testimony revealed Singleton believed he was a soldier of God sent to “eradicate evil” and had a hit list of people he was supposed to kill for God. A defense expert said Singleton suffered from a mental illness that made him delusional and psychotic. Yesterday, authorities said he no longer takes medication for that illness.

Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Van Gilst asked for a life sentence because "the victim did nothing, but take him in, take care of him and give him love and affection. His anger was the sole reason for the murder...Michelle Cazan is gone to her family. To allow him to one day walk free is not right.” Van Glist also stated that the insanity defense should be rejected because he knew right from wrong.

Singleton asked for forgiveness from the victim's family.

"I know how much she meant to you and how much you meant to her. I pray to God you may find it in your heart to forgive me.”

NJ man held under police guard in stabbing death of girlfriend

Roberto Corona, 36, is being held under police guard in a Camden, NJ hospital after allegedly stabbing his girlfriend to death the morning of August 12. 21 year old Marisol Campos was pronounced at her Pennsauken, NJ home.

Police found Campos lying in the foyer at 8:20 a.m. She had been stabbed multiple times and was declared dead at the scene. Corona was found nearby with self-inflicted knife wounds to his neck and chest, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office and Pennsauken police.

Arraignment date has not been scheduled.

NJ county starts program aiming to prevent assaults

Steps to thwart deviant behavior
Warren County agency hopes group will help prevent domestic violence.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
By BILL WICHERT
The Express-Times
Whether it's just after an incident occurred or decades later, the Warren County Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Crisis Center is there to help victims through the healing process.
Now the organization is taking aim at how to prevent such attacks from happening in the first place.

As part of a statewide effort, the center is looking to build a coalition of community members to develop its first prevention program in the county. The center has begun surveying the community in hopes of assembling a group by next month.

"It's a new way of approaching things," said Sheila Garry Avery, the center's community education director. "At least we're starting to talk about it."

Through funding provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consultants hired by the New Jersey Coalition against Sexual Assault are expected to assist the center and agencies in other counties with creating their own programs.

As the center seeks ideas on preventing sexual assault, some of the common themes to be addressed include the use of technology and discussing the issue with parents, even before a child is born, Avery said. With text messaging and Web sites like MySpace, a victim can feel violated without any physical contact, she said.

"The whole concept of privacy has completely changed," Avery said.

Some common obstacles to increasing prevention also have emerged, she said. For example, Warren County's rural stretches provide limited transportation options to receive services. That can make people feel socially distant from their neighbors, Avery said.

In small towns, some people might be fearful of discussing such issues because of a lack of anonymity, she said. "People are isolated within their own communities," Avery said.

According to New Jersey State Police, three reported cases of sexual assault occurred during 2006 in Warren County and none in 2005, the most recent years for available data.

The center, however, has seen an increase over the last few years in the number of people coming forward, even if they don't approach law enforcement, said Pam Farago, the center's executive director. The center does not promote such reporting, but encourages the victims to make their own decisions, Farago said.

"It's a life-changing experience," she said.
Reporter Bill Wichert can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by e-mail at bwichert@express-times.com.

NJ dentist sued by employee for unwanted sexual advances

A Branchburg, NJ dentist is facing a sexual harassment lawsuit from a former employee, claiming that the unwanted sexual attention and advances, which included kisses on the neck and breast groping, created a hostile workplace environment. Jacqueline Constantino, a receptionist, billing clerk, and radiologist who worked 20 hours a week for dentist Dr. Victoria Inglis, filed suit against her former employer in the Civil Division of Superior Court in Somerville, NJ.

Before January 2007, Constantino was a dedicated worker who Inglis occasionally invited to social events like shopping trips, lunches, and a dental conference. All of this changed starting January 3, when after a holiday party for the practice, Inglis followed Constantino into the woman’s room hugged her, kissed her neck, and told Constantino she loved her.

Later that month, on Jan. 23, 2007, Constantino arrived at work to find the office was closed and all the patient appointments canceled because a surprise party was being planned for Constantino's birthday.

Inglis then took Constantino shopping, out to lunch and to a spa. After leaving the spa, Inglis said she had a surprise for Constantino, blindfolded her, put her in a car, drove her to another location then escorted Constantino, still blindfolded, into a room, the suit alleges.

When the blindfold was removed, Constantino found herself in a darkened room at the Lambertville House that had lit candles. There was also soft music and chilled champagne.
Inglis then read to Constantino from M. Scott Peck's book, "The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth." Inglis then began to kiss Constantino's neck and touched her breast, the suit charges. Constantino once again resisted the advances, the suit alleges.

The lawsuit said that the harassment caused her “extreme emotional distress,” leading to her resignation “at a significant loss of income.”

NJ gym teacher pleads guilty to endangering 16 year old girl's welfare by having sex with her

Daniel W. Kerekes, a 37 year old South Brunswick High School gym teacher, has pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child July 30. He faces 3 years out of a statutory maximum of10 years in prison when he's sentenced October 17 for endangering the welfare of a child.

This charge, which stems from a 9-month sexual relationship with a 16 year old student, is the latest step in legal proceedings which began when he was arrested back in April for more serious charges of sexual assault of a student. Kerekes has been placed onpaid suspension from his job at SBHS gym teacher since his arrest, and it is not currently known if he's been fired or resigned. The accused is also the boys lacrosse coach at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South and makes $59,000 per year at both jobs.

Another NJ teacher sex scandal - this time fem on fem!

(Originally Posted 10-12-07)

Yet another case of New Jersey teacher-student sexual misconduct. Victoria Blevins, of Robbinsville, was arrested at her home Wednesday, 10 days after a mother found messages on her teenage daughter's computer suggesting a sexual relationship between the two. Monroe Township High School, in Monroe, NJ, was where Blevins graduated in 2002, then worked as a gym teacher, and also where the student, who was not a student of Blevins, attended. Blevins was listed as an assistant girls' basketball coach on the school website.

A subsequent investigation turned up evidence of extensive contact, some of it sexual in nature, between the two, and the student eventually told investigators that the sexual activity between herself and Blevins lasted from April & June.

Blevins was charged with sexual assault and official misconduct. Sometimes, only the official misconduct count in a teacher-student sex case in New Jersey is charged. This occurs if the alleged victim is 16 or over, NJ's age of consent. Sex offender registration is not required for a guilty verdict or plea when this occurs. Blevins is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on $100,000 bail.

Note to Blevins - Why risk your career by going with a student who is less than 7 years younger than you if you can have women your age, or legally date 16 & 17 year old girls outside of your school? You are 23, and official misconduct convictions in NJ means loss of your teaching license forever, not just for 2 or 3 years. You can always travel to NYC or Philly for a relationship with a woman.

NJ gym teacher held in sex case

(Updated 6-2-08) (Pled Guilty to Lesser Charge 4-18-08)I missed this BIG time. Blevins, according to this website, pleaded guilty to harassment April 18 after the victim recanted. She still contacts the "victim", who is still a student, and according to her lawyer, pland to go into the military. Her teaching certificate will be given up to the state, and she will be sentenced July 18.

(Updated 7-19-08) Blevins was sentenced to 3 years probation on reduced charges of harassment after non cooperation from the victim forced prosecutors to drop more serious charges of official misconduct and sexual assault. Blevins won't be required to register as a sex offender, though she has permanently forfeited her New Jersey teaching certificate.

The student, who was not in any of Blevins' classes, no longer goes to Monroe High.

Blevins, who apologized before Superior Court Judge Frederick DeVesa, plans to go into the military.

Serial rapist convicted of rape, murder - sentenced to life

(Original Post 3-21-08)

A serial rapist was convicted of 10 charges, including the rape and murder of a woman back in 2003. Chris Kornberger of Evesham, NJ was convicted of raping and murdering Krista Defrancesco, 24. Another woman, Elizabeth Loetzner-Jung, formerly of Evesham, was ran off the road so Kornburger could assault, rape, and kidnap her back in August 2003.

James Ronca, an assistant Burlington County prosecutor, told jurors Kornberger voluntarily confessed to DiFrancesco's killing and his DNA was found in semen taken from her body despite contamination of that sample at a testing laboratory.

"He was the man who killed Krista DiFrancesco," Ronca said in his closing argument, pointing to Kornberger, who sat in the courtroom with his two lawyers. "The crimes were the product of a sexual compulsion that he said he hoped would go away."

Defense lawyer Timothy Reilly attacked mistakes he said were made by the police during the interrogation.

Reilly admitted Kornberger is a "troubled person" with emotional problems, suggesting he may be one of those "disturbed people" who follow major criminal cases in the news and, for notoriety reasons, confess to them.

Reilly said testimony by an independent prosecution expert that the DNA test was valid was based on results from an "incompetent" lab whose procedural standards were criticized by the expert.

Reilly also questioned the confession's validity because the first half of the police interrogation was not taped. He also said there were too many details Kornberger did not remember while speaking to police and that he was led on by police.

Ronca said only the killer would know certain details of the crimes that Kornberger gave -- such as the location of DiFrancesco's stab wounds. Ronca tried to debunk conspiracy theories, calling the confession convincing, candid and truthful.

"He (Kornberger) even professed remorse many times," Ronca said. "He cried. . . . Nobody maneuvered him. . . . No one was forcing him to admit to crimes he didn't do. He said he was under the influence of drugs when he committed the crimes. No wonder he doesn't remember everything."

Kornburger pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a Evesham woman, Nancy "Kim" Clark, at the start of his trial, and was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the attempted rape of a Waterford, NJ woman. He faces life in prison.

(Update 7-16-08) On July 2, Burlington County Superior Court Judge Thomas S. Smith Jr. sentenced Chris Kornberger to life without parole for 126 years for the crimes mentioned above.

Nancy “Kim” Clark, who survived the stabbing attack, said that she feared for her kids’ safety, just in case they encountered an “evil, deviant person like Christopher Kornberger.” Clark was robbed of her “sense of trust in others.”

The 3rd victim in the July 2 sentencing, Elizabeth Loetzner-Jung, did not attend the sentencing.

On Monday, July 14, Kornberger pleaded guilty to his last crime in front of Camden County Superior Court Judge Samuel Natal, the attempted rape of a Waterford, NJ woman he tried to pull from her home. Prosecutors recommended a 15 year sentence for the attempted rape and kidnapping, which will run concurrent with his other terms. The 18 year sentence for the attempted murder of was reduced to 9 years due to New Jersey sentencing guidelines.

Baby's daddy kills mother in front of their kid in Montclair, NJ

MONTCLAIR, New Jersey (AP) - A man shot and killed a woman in front of their 11-year-old daughter inside a YMCA recreation center while a swimming class for preschoolers was going on nearby, officials said.

Authorities said Monica Paul, 31, argued with the suspect, Kenneth A. Duckett, 37, before he allegedly opened fire about 6:30 p.m.

Duckett, the father of her two children, then ran from the building and drove off in a white Jeep with another man, who has not been identified, authorities said. The vehicle was later found; both men remained at large late Thursday.

Witnesses said YMCA staffers and parents helped get the children out of the building. None of the children was hurt, authorities said.

Essex County Prosecutor Paula T. Dow said Paul was shot multiple times at close range as she sat with her daughter in a waiting area outside the pool where her 4-year-old son was swimming. Witnesses told investigators they heard at least three or four shots.

Authorities said the slain woman was granted a restraining order against Duckett late last year