Prosecutors say Linda Watkins-Brashear received nearly $1 million in kickbacks from contracting jobs she doled out to friends and an ex-husband.

NEWARK -- The sentencing of a former director of the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp. who admitted to soliciting nearly $1 million in bribes has been postponed until at least April.

Linda Watkins-Brashear, the former director of the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp. leaves U.S. District Court in Newark on Dec. 21, 2015 (Brian Donohue | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Linda Watkins-Brashear had been scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark, but Linares on Monday moved to reset the hearing for April 12.

Court records show it's the fourth time Brashear's sentencing has been rescheduled since she pleaded guilty in December 2015 to charges of conspiracy and filing a false income tax return.

Prosecutors say Brashear, who ran the water utility from 2007 to 2013, admitted taking nearly nearly $1 million in kickbacks after dolling out contracting jobs worth a similar amount to friends and her ex-husband.

Brashear also admitted to under reporting her income by $316,000.

One of those contractors, Giacomo "Jack" DeRosa, was sentenced in October 2016 to six months in prison after pleading guilty to laundering $85,000 in kickbacks to the watershed's special projects manager, Donald Bernard Sr.

The watershed corporation, which was dissolved in 2013 and filed for bankruptcy the next year, has been embroiled in controversy since a scathing 2014 report by the state comptroller's office found agency officials had made off with millions of its funds.

A federal judge in June dismissed a lawsuit by the watershed's trustees against U.S. Sen. Corey Booker, who the trustees had argued failed to properly oversee its administration while he served on the agency's board.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

All 14 No. 1-ranked wrestlers remained at the top but several newcomers found their way into the top eight.

Envy was shuttered all month after Gorga's former business partner secretly emptied the boutique in a business

 

So excited!!! @envybymg will open its doors on Saturday! I will be there from 12-3 to meet you all So happy that Envy is all mine![?] [?] Thank you so much for believing in me & I can't wait to see you Saturday[?]

A photo posted by Melissa Gorga (@melissagorga) on Jan 24, 2017 at 6:42am PST

"Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Melissa Gorga is reopening her Montclair boutique Envy, less than a month after her former business partner secretly unloaded all the high-merchandise from the store, effectively ending their partnership. 

Gorga posted on Instagram that Envy, at 609 Bloomfield Avenue will reopen on Saturday, with the reality star greeting customers from noon to three. "So happy that Envy is all mine," she writes. "Thank you so much for believing in me."

A spokeswoman for Gorga says that her former partner Jackie Beard Robinson is no longer on the lease, and that the partnership has been dissolved without litigation. 

The website, which had been down since the split in early January, is back up, with the same body-con styles that Gorga favors and that have been staples of Envy. 

Gorga and Robinson opened Envy in late 2015, but had clashed (sometimes on camera) over the direction of the boutique.

They had been in talks to end the partnership, but Gorga was blindsided when Robinson, abetted by Kim DePaola, an Allendale boutique owner who also appears on the show, emptied the store without telling her. Robinson and DePaola later sold off the merchandise at DePaola's Posche boutique, and there had been murmurings that Gorga would not have the capital to reopen.

In what may or may not be a coincidence, DePaola, who rarely resists an opportunity to make a dig at Gorga on social media, posted a notice on Instagram -- around the same time as Gorga's reopening post -- about the apparently ongoing "Envy Liquidation Sale" at Posche, with prices starting at $10. 

Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook, and check out Remote Possibilities, the TV podcast from Vicki Hyman and co-host Erin Medley on iTunes, Stitcher or Spreaker, or listen below or here.

Ep. 62: Why 'Star' and 'The Young Pope' just aren't working

Leaders from the North Jersey Super Football Conference think an expansion of the playoffs would help regular-season scheduling.

The leaders behind a new proposal that would drastically change the high school football playoffs want you to answer this question.

How is this not better?

“We have what we think is a sound plan,” said Westwood athletic director Danny Vivino. “It’s not perfect, but it’s better than what we have. That’s the key word -- better.”

BELOW: Read the proposal in it's entirety

The new proposal, which was crafted by Vivino, River Dell athletic director Denis Nelson and the North Jersey Super Football Conference, is aiming to revamp the entire playoff structure in an attempt to make regular-season scheduling fairer and more equitable. 

“The whole plan was motivated by scheduling and making scheduling as equitable and fair as possible,” said Joe Piro, Nutley athletic director and President of the North Jersey Super Football Conference. “This proposal enables you to make great matchups and not be afraid to play great games or perennial powers because if you lose, you won’t make the playoffs.”

The keys of the proposal are to: 

• Create public-school playoff brackets by splitting the state into seven groups based on enrollment and two sections based on geography. That makes 14 sections with 16 qualifiers in each from a pool of 22 teams. That increases the number of public-school qualifiers from 160 to 224 and means 73 percent of the state's public schools qualify. In the current format, 52 percent qualify. 

• Keep the state's three non-public sections the same but increase the number of qualifiers in each from eight to 12. The increase would ensure automatic entry for every team in Group 3 and Group 4 while five teams would miss the cut in Group 2. 

• Maintain eight- or nine-game regular-season schedules despite adding an extra round of the playoffs. Teams can accomplish that by playing from Week 0 to Week 8 or starting Week 1 and using Thanksgiving week. 

• Keep the power-point formula used to qualify essentially the same with a slight tweak to accommodate the new seven-group format. 

"We want to be as transparent as possible," Piro said. "We don't want to hide anything. We want everybody to take a look at it and understand it. We're willing to speak in front of any organization to explain what it's all about and hopefully by the 2018 season, we would be able to institute it." 

The proposal, which was presented to league presidents last Tuesday and will be presented to the NJSIAA's Football Committee tomorrow, hopes to fix several inequalities that popped up this fall for teams like Butler and Northern Highlands. 

Butler missed the NJIC-based North 1, Group 1 playoffs at 6-2, losing to North 2, Group 1 finalists Weequahic and Shabazz by eight total points, while Northern Highland missed the cut in favor of a Fair Lawn team that it beat, 44-14. 

In this case, Fair Lawn was 7-1 at the cut against teams that finished 20-59 while Northern Highlands (4-4) lost four games to two sectional champions and two finalists during an eight-game stretch against teams that finished 55-33. 

It brings up this question. 

"With football under attack and programs potentially folding, do you want to give Fair Lawn a murder's row and let them go 1-9?" asked Vivino. "On the other side, is it fair to Northern Highlands when it was clearly one of the top eight teams in the section?" 

Whether that question can be answered or whether those types of issues exist around the state is still to be determined but critics of the proposal argue that expanding the playoffs creates more problems. 

Bud Kowal, Ewing athletic director and President of the West Jersey Football League, argues a team like Northern Highlands would have been out-matched anyway. 

“If you want to say that some teams are not getting in that deserve it, I’m going to say that more teams that don’t deserve it are already getting in anyway, and the teams that theoretically deserve to get in don’t really have a chance to win the championship," Kowal said, pointing out first-round games that would pit a No. 1 seed against a No. 16 seed.

In the case of the hypothetical section South Jersey, Group 6, top-seeded Manalapan would play a West Windsor-Plainsboro South team that was 2-6 at the cutoff. 

On the other side of the argument, Vivino said one-sided games already happen, noting that the top two seeds in each section went 37-3 in the first round with an average margin of victory of 29 points. 

Last season, there appears to be seven teams that missed the playoffs with records better than .500. If the proposal was put in place last season, 57 teams that were sub-.500 at the cutoff would have qualified. 

Kowal said that's the type of situation that led to conference expansion in the first place. 

"The West Jersey Football League got together because we had mismatched games that we couldn't do anything about," Kowal said. "Now you're going to put those type of games in the playoffs?"

Kowal, who also questioned the proposal's schedule, is a member of the NJSIAA's Football Committee that will listen to the proposal tomorrow morning.

"I'm not opposed to change, but it has to be change that's good for everyone and not just good for the elite that want to say we half a half state champion. That's the end game." 

Shooting victim listed in critical, but stable condition, according to authorities.

NEWARK -- A 35-year-old man was shot and his car was taken during an attack late Monday in Newark's South Ward, authorities said.

The injured man was reported in critical, but stable condition at University Hospital Tuesday and is expected to survive his wounds, according to Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.

Police responded to reports of gunfire around 9 p.m. on Lawton Street, where offices found the victim, Ambrose added.

A possible motive for the shooting remained under investigation and Newark detectives were following leads, he said. 

The man's 2008 Black Cadillac was also taken during the incident and remains missing, according to authorities.

Newark credits State Police backup with helping battle violent crime

Ambrose urged anyone with information contact Newark's 24-hour Crime Stoppers tip line at 877 NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867). Police said all anonymous tips would be kept confidential. Detectives with the Newark police division Major Crimes Bureau were investigating. 

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Defense attorney Raymond Beam Jr. told jurors Tuesday the case against Azim Brogsdale relied on dishonest witnesses.

NEWARK -- Whether a jury believes the testimony of an admitted robber will determine if another man serves time in connection with the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy on an Irvington street corner.

In his closing arguments Tuesday, defense attorney Raymond Beam Jr. told the jury the state's case against Azim Brogsdale relied on questionable witnesses, some of them facing open criminal charges, who'd given inconsistent statements to investigators.

"And, I submit, witnesses who have lied under oath ... in front of you," he said.

Brogsdale, 21, is charged under an 11-count indictment in connection with the shooting death of Khalil Williams during an armed robbery at Orange Avenue and Orange Place the night of Feb. 17, 2012.

The witness with the most to gain from lying about Brogsdale's role in the shooting, Beam told the jury, was Haroon Perry, an alleged co-conspirator of Brogsdale's who has since pleaded guilty under an agreement with the Prosecutor's Office that requires him to testify truthfully in Brogsdale's trial.

Perry previously testified that he had driven a car containing Brogsdale and three other men to the scene of the robbery during which Williams was fatally shot.

Perry testified he stayed in the car during the robbery, but Beam pointed out that short-statured Perry was the one person in the room who closely matched the description of the shooter first given to investigators by two of the state's eyewitnesses, Naeem White and Davon Arrington: light-skinned, 5-foot-5, 120 to 130 pounds.

"Now who in this case is 5-5, 120?" Beam asked the jury. "Haroon Perry."

He portrayed Perry, who was facing the rest of his life in prison on charges including felony murder, as a man with nothing to lose and everything to gain from playing along with the state's case.

"When he decided to give that statement to Detective (Kevin) Green, he knew what he was looking at," Beam said.

Beam told the jury Tuesday that both White and Arrington had picked Brogsdale's picture out of photo displays at the Prosecutor's Office after they initially told investigators they couldn't remember anything about the other man who robbed them.

"How is it that when they can't describe what these people look like ... that they are able to select my client's picture from that (photo) group?" Beam asked.

In a stipulation read to the jury before Beam's closing arguments, both prosecutor and defense attorney agreed to one thing: White never mentioned one key piece of his testimony with the prosecution before trial.

White, who is currently facing pending charges in Morris County, previously testified that while the robbers had masks covering their faces, one of their masks fell off, allowing him to identify Brogsdale.

But according to the stipulated facts, he never told that to the prosecutor or Green, the main investigator on the case, before his testimony in court. 

Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab told the jury that White, Arrington and Krishna Nesbeth, who also was with Williams when he was shot, were scared when investigators called them in shortly after the killing to question them about what had happened. 

"Whether they gave all of the facts they knew or just some of the facts they knew, these young men experienced something traumatic," Edwab said. 

Edwab reminded jurors that when authorities first interviewed Perry in March 2012, when he could not have known he would face the possibility of a plea deal in the incident three years later. 

He added that Green, the investigator, had looked for Brogsdale for four months after charges were filed, at his home and at other places he typically spent time, before he finally found him.

Judge Alfonse J. Cifelli told jurors after the closing arguments that if they believed Perry had knowingly testified falsely, with the intent to deceive them, they should give that idea the weight they think it deserves. They could still choose to believe some of Perry's testimony, Cifelli said, or they could disregard all of it. 

Jury deliberations are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati or on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

No one was hurt when two men robbed the business Monday

NUTLEY-- Police are searching for two men who held up a donut shop Monday night.

The pair, who were wearing masks, burst into the Dunkin' Donuts at Park Avenue and River Road around 9:30 p.m., forcing a customer into a corner at gunpoint. One of the men then jumped over the counter and took cash out of the registers before both fled on foot south along River Road.

No one was hurt, police said.

The suspects were described as black males. One was wearing grey clothing with a black wool cap. The other, who was taller, was wearing a brown leather jacket, a hoodie and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is being asked to call Nutley police at 973-284-4940. Tipsters can also visit  www.tipsoft.com to submit information anonymously.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook

The Newark deputy chief commanded an elite unit credited with removing guns from city streets.

Deputy Chief Robert Sbaraglio (Photo: Dept. of Public Safety) 

Mayor Ras Baraka, Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose and Police Chief Darnell Henry posthumously promoted Robert Sbaraglio, who died late Monday, from captain to deputy chief.

"He served the City of Newark with dedication, honor and commitment for more than 30 years," Ambrose said in an announcement.

As commander of the police division's Special Enforcement Bureau, Sbaraglio led a unit of detectives credited with removing numerous guns from Newark's streets and targeting drug dealers.

Ambrose called the deputy chief a "well-respected" member of the force. 

Sbaraglio, 55, also served in the auto squad, traffic division and criminal investigations bureau after he joined the state's largest municipal police force in 1984, a department statement said. Sbaraglio battled cancer for at least 10 years and continued to serve.

Newark Fraternal Order of Police President James Stewart Jr. described Sbaraglio as "an absolute pillar of a man, who led with a calm voice and an even demeanor."

"If you met him and didn't know the years-long battle that he had been fighting, you would never know how sick he was," Stewart said. "He took on this battle with incredible dignity, never asking for special treatment or extra consideration, he just wanted to be a cop, and teach the younger cops."

Stewart said even when issues came up with the police union and management, Sbaraglio was a "true gentleman."

"It's so cliche', but he will truly be missed, everybody loved him, everybody loved working for him," he added. 

Sbaraglio, who loved riding motorcycles and the police motorcycle squad, asked for officers from the unit to visit him in the hospital only days before he died, Stewart recalled.

"He wanted to make sure they would teach his son to ride when he was ready," Stewart said. "That was him, thinking of others before himself, family first."

Funeral arrangements were not yet finalized.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

State Police said the men are members of the "Red Breed Gorillas," a Newark set of the Bloods street gang

NEWARK -- State prosecutors have asked a judge to keep nine alleged members of a violent city street gang, arrested during State Police raids last week, jailed pending trial.

Twelve alleged members of the "Red Breed Gorillas" have already made their initial appearances in state Superior Court, according to Peter Aseltine, a spokesperson for the state Office of Attorney General.

The OAG is seeking pre-trial detention for the following defendants:

• Abdul Bryant, 20
• Yasim Smith, 19
• Aljuquan Thomason, 24
• Lyonel Finklea, 30
• Bryant Hawkins, 39
• Tyree Oxford, 23
• Alfatah Loyal, 31
• Kevin Clayton, 25
• Yasin Hamilton, 25

All except Hamilton were arrested Friday as part of a State Police-led sweep targeting the gang's alleged drug-dealing operations around Stratford Place and the Grace West Housing Complex on Irvine Turner Boulevard; the men face charges of drug possession and distribution, as well as weapons and gang offenses.

Attorney General Chris Porrino told NJ Advance Media the gang members represented "some of the most prolific drug dealers in the city."

Essex County Correctional Facility records show Hamilton was being held in the jail Monday on charges including possession of a controlled dangerous substance and conspiracy.

A flow chart of the gang's structure, distributed by State Police on Sunday, identifies Clayton and Finklea as two of the gang's "five-star generals." 

Investigators seized 168 decks of heroin and 94 vials of crack cocaine, along with a handgun and more than $3,500 cash during the raids, authorities said.

In an email Tuesday, Aseltine said the detention motions are being filed under the Bail Reform and Speed Trial Act, which took effect Jan. 1. Under the law, judges can order a defendant held without bail if they determine the defendant is a threat to others, or is unlikely to show up for their next court date.

Aseltine said the men are expected to appear for detention hearings before Judge Martin G. Cronin beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Because of the number of defendants, Aseltine said, the hearings are expected to continue into Thursday.

Will gang sweep make dent in Newark drug trade?

Another defendant, Quashyne Seburn, 24, is currently incarcerated at a state prison and is expected to make his first appearance next week, Aseltine said.

Department of Corrections records show Seburn is currently serving a five-year prison sentence at Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility for unlawful possession of a handgun in Essex County.

Jail records show two other defendants arrested Friday on drug and conspiracy charges, Terrance Shells and Tyre Sorbino, were released on Monday.

Eight others remained at large as of Sunday:

• Ramon Finklea, 29
• Jahob Loyal, 27
• Kevin Loyal, 28
• Charlie Jones, 28
• Nyreek Loyal, 21
• Darnell Cogman, 44
• Jahwon Christian, 21
• Naim Stewart, 23

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

From Marcus Samuelsson in Newark to Michael Symon in Atlantic City, it's going to be a big year for area foodies.

Who's making an impact at the next level

Teachers petitioned the school district Tuesday to stand between students and immigration authorities.

NEWARK -- A group of public school teachers are petitioning the Newark school district to protect immigrant children who may be targeted under the President Donald J. Trump's proposed crackdown on illegal immigration.

During Tuesday's School Advisory Board meeting, teacher Branden Rippey presented a petition signed by more than 160 educators and community members asking the district to declare schools off limits to federal immigration authorities, refuse to share students' personal information and take concrete steps to carry out both actions. 

"These are dangerous times for our students who we have committed to care about and teach and value as they grow up," Rippey said. "We demand that this board and those who manage the schools forcibly and unequivocally make public our defense of our students and their families."

Ending illegal immigration was a core part of Trump's presidential platform. He vowed to ramp up deportations and end an executive action signed by President Barack Obama granting young undocumented immigrants work visas and reprieve from deportation. 

On Wednesday, Trump is expected to sign an executive action targeting cities who refuse to hand over undocumented immigrants for deportation, according to reports.  It's not clear much he'll clamp down on so-called sanctuary cities, like Newark, that have vowed to stand by its immigrant community. 

"It's absolutely the right thing to do for communities to defend themselves," said Chia-Chia Wang, an organizer with the American Friends Service Committee, an immigrant rights group based in Newark. "Schools and hospitals and churches are considered, even by law enforcement agencies, as 'sensitive locations' so it's less likely (immigration) will come in, but again there's no guarantee."

Al Moussab, a teacher at East Side High School said students should feel "when they enter those doors that they are legitimately safe."

Other members of the public Tuesday suggested the district offer "know your rights" workshops to inform teachers, students and their families.

"We are heading for some devastating times," school board advisory member Leah Owens said.

The petition asked Newark schools to officially pledge to stand between these anti-immigration forces and the students it threatens. "We demand this be more than symbolic language," the petition read. 

Schools Superintendent Christopher Cerf said he had already signed a petition to protect young undocumented students who benefitted from Obama's executive action to protect them from deportation and give them work permits.

"I will assure you that I share your perspective and this organization is not going to cooperate with that kind of conduct," Cerf said. 

Vice-chairperson Crystal Fonseca said the board would review the petition and discuss it before the legal committee to decide what actions they could take as a district. But she said, as a Latina, she supported protecting the immigrant community.

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. 

Police issue tips to avoid vehicle theft

A sign in a New Jersey Turnpike service area warns drivers not to leave their unoccupied cars idling in the parking lot. (Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) 

Of the 126 stolen vehicles reported through Jan. 19 in the state's largest city, 28 were left running, according to police division statistics.

With the cold weather, police often see more drivers leaving their cars to warm up or for a run into a store. Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said that quick trip is all a thief needs to take off with a vehicle.

"Warming up an unattended vehicle with keys in the ignition is an invitation for thieves to steal your car," the public safety director added in a statement. "It only takes seconds for a thief to steal a vehicle left running while unattended and or unoccupied."

Can a cop take the keys out of an idling car?

In response to air pollution concerns, leaving a vehicle unattended and idling for a certain time period is illegal in New Jersey, with some exceptions.

"Don't fall into a false sense of security by using a remote to lock the car while the engine is running," Ambrose added.

"In this scenario, the thief only needs to break a window to enter the car and drive off. This practice gives thieves an open invitation to steal your car. If you want to warm up your car, do so legally, by not leaving the vehicle unattended," he said. 

The problem is not unique to Newark. Departments from Jersey City to Pennsville Township, Salem County, have reported similar thefts through the winter.

Newark police issued the following safety tips to prevent auto theft:

• Install a remote starter so you can warm up or cool down your car without unlocking its doors
• Install a vehicle tracking device to find your car in the event of a theft
• Keep valuables in your vehicle hidden from plain view to deter thefts
• Park in public, well-lit, security-monitored parking areas
• Never leave your car unlocked, even in low-crime areas and neighborhoods
• Keep windows rolled up, even on hot summer days
• Do not leave a spare key in or near your vehicle
• Activate an audible alarm system

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Maplewood authorities are investigating the alleged attack, which they say happened outside Columbia High School.

MAPLEWOOD -- Police are investigating the alleged attack of a 16-year-old girl by two of her classmates.

Authorities are investigating the incident. (File photo) 

According to a release from police Wednesday, a 15-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl were charged with simple assault in connection with the Jan. 18 attack, which allegedly took place at the corner of Valley Street and Parker Avenue in Maplewood, right outside Columbia High School. All three students attend the school, police said.

Police said "multiple on-lookers" watched as the two assaulted the girl. The incident has not been named a bias crime, but police said the investigation into it is ongoing. It is not clear what may have prompted the alleged attack.

Students, administrators walk out to protest Trump

A school district spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Maplewood Police Department's Youth Aid Bureau.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The president has promised to eliminate so-called sanctuary cities, but political leaders and experts are skeptical that the order will impact real change in New Jersey.

NEWARK -- The leaders of New Jersey cities who have promised to protect undocumented residents from federal immigration law enforcement officials are grappling Wednesday with an expected presidential executive order that could impact their policies.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive action targeting cities that refuse to hand over non-criminal undocumented immigrants for deportation, according to reports. The specifics of the order are unclear. 

"Newark will continue to protect undocumented immigrants despite whatever executive order is issued later today by President Trump," Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement to NJ Advance Media. Baraka is staging a press conference with advocacy groups Wednesday evening to speak out against the order.

"Newark has a policy of protecting undocumented immigrants from deportation by U.S. immigration authorities. We see no reason to change that policy," he said.

The mayor vowed after Trump's election last year to protect the city's immigrant population, and only arrest undocumented immigrants who engage in criminal activities. Mayors in other cities, like Jersey City, made similar promises.

The election also prompted a flurry of New Jersey towns to pass new policies cementing themselves as so-called "sanctuary cities," which have policies or orders in place to limit cooperation by local law enforcement or corrections agencies in helping immigration authorities detain and remove unauthorized aliens, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Baraka: Newark will stand by immigrants

In December, East Orange passed sanctuary city law, and only a few days before Trump's inauguration, Maplewood signed on, too, with an ordinance saying that local police would not assist federal agents in identifying or arresting immigrants based on legal status.

"Given the political climate in Washington, it is important for the Maplewood Township Committee to be very clear about our intentions of upholding constitutional rights and liberties for all," Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca said in a statement when the ordinance was passed.

"We will not participate in dividing people based on citizenship or immigration status nor will we profile or register people because of where they are from or what they believe."

Advocacy agencies like New Jersey Working Families and the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice have pledged support to other towns looking to implement similar policies, and have promised to work toward making New Jersey a "sanctuary state." Even a group of teachers in Newark have gotten into the debate, presenting a petition to the school district Tuesday asking it to conceal information about its immigrant students.

East Orange Mayor Lester Taylor Wednesday echoed the comments of his fellow mayors, while admitting that they "have no clue" how the executive order will impact the towns until it is signed and implemented.

Still, "we have absolutely no intention of changing our stance regardless of what goes on in Washington. East Orange is, and always will be, a safe place for people to call home," Taylor said.

Experts say it's too early to know what the exact impacts of any of Trump's executive orders will be.

"While we really don't know yet how any of Trump's executive orders will play out, the coming executive order on sanctuary cities may have some real consequences for cities like Newark," said Matthew Hale, a political science professor at Seton Hall University.

"Immigration is generally considered in the purview of the federal government and if that stands legal challenges, federal law beats state and local ordinances."

But, Hale pointed out, executive orders don't exactly become law right away. Congress can refuse to appropriate money to carry them out, or can pass legislation to overturn them. One of Barack Obama's first actions as president, he pointed out, was an executive order to close Guantanamo Bay, which remains open.

"Executive orders are kind of the legislative equivalent of tweets," Hale said.

"They make for great sound bites (and) headlines... but before they actually accomplish anything there will need to be accompanying laws passed through Congress, likely courts challenges to those laws and then interpretations and rule-making by the federal agencies that are charged with implementing those laws. 

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Even those unfamiliar with the game can enjoy this concert.

It's not the standard classical fare, an entire concert devoted to original score from a video game series. But the music written for the "Final Fantasy" series draws on classical tradition, with melody and structure, leitmotif and themes, conductor Arnie Roth said.

"It's so well-developed. There are separate themes for every character, every battle, every environment, hundreds of hours of music," Roth said in an interview with NJ Advance Media. "It's music that does sit very well on the concert stage. Everyone who hears it agrees."

"Distant Worlds: the music from FINAL FANTASY" comes to NJPAC for two shows Jan. 28.

Roth, who is also the show's music director, will direct the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra and The Crossing choir. Singer Susan Calloway, who has performed on the series' growing soundtrack, is the soloist. Composer Nobuo Uematsu -- dubbed the "Beethoven of video games music" by the UK's only all-classical radio station -- will also take part in the production.

Roth, who won a Grammy Award when part of the group Mannheim Steamroller and was nominated for an original score Emmy Award, understands that some people may find the concept of a concert based on a video game score rather strange. He was, too, when, in 2004, a colleague suggested following in the footsteps of the Japanese and putting on such a show.

"There's been concerts of video game music in Japan since the 1990s," he said. "These were regular concerts, sometimes an orchestra only, sometimes with a chorus, with no video screens, and these were always hugely popular and well-attended."

In 2005, Roth conducted the first U.S. concerts of "Final Fantasy" music. They were sell-outs, he said. A dozen years later, he's still working with the music, which has evolved as the game has. The 15th main installment of "Final Fantasy" was released in November 2016.

 "We keep developing it. We have about 130 to 140 full orchestra and chorus score that rotate," Roth said. "We get the same responses from  audiences everywhere we go, from Kuala Lampur to Seoul to Sydney, Australia, to Chicago to New Jersey. It's a universal family of 'Final Fantasy' fans."

Released in 1987, "Final Fantasy" is a role-playing game developed by Japanese developer Square Enix. Uetmatsu has written the series' music from the very beginning.

"Think of 'Super Mario' and other games of that era. What makes it so remarkable is he was composing with very little capability," Roth said.

But Uematsu managed to work magic with a limited number of sounds and seconds. He finally got to use a full orchestra when eighth main installment of the game was released in 1999. 

"It's like listening to a big, sumptuous John Williams movie score. Williams used the same techniques as Uematsu does in 'Final Fantasy,'" Roth said. "It's extremely compelling and beautifully orchestrated. It's written for a big orchestra, but it can be intimate as well, with solos for different instruments and singers."

The NJPAC production will feature video footage tied to the music. The show aims to surprise long-time fans of the game and its music. In some cases, Roth said, he interacts with the audience, like asking them to join in a chant of a beloved character's name.

There have even been multiple marriage proposals during shows, with people writing in and requesting their messages be played before or after certain songs.

"There's so much emotion," Roth said. "In every city, it's completely different."

Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY

Jan. 28, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m

NJPAC's Prudential Hall, Newark

Tickets: $41.50 - 99

Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook. 

Sources previously told NJ Advance Media the couple was under investigation by the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency at the time of the boy's death.

NEWARK -- An Essex County grand jury has returned an indictment charging a city couple with first-degree aggravated manslaughter in the beating death of the woman's 8-year-old son.

Khadejrah Rawls (left) and Christopher Spearman. (Essex County Prosecutor's Office)
 

In addition to manslaughter, the 11-count indictment charges Khadejrah Rawls, 28, and Christopher Spearman, 29, with endangering the welfare of the child by striking him in the head and body, according to the office of Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray.

Rawls' son, Michael Moore Jr., was pronounced dead at University Hospital at 10:36 a.m. on Oct. 2, 2016, less than an hour after police officers responded to the couple's North Munn Avenue home for a report of an unresponsive child, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors allege Moore, who died of blunt force trauma, went into cardiac arrest after being assaulted.

Sources familiar with the case previously told NJ Advance Media that at the time of Moore's death, the family was the subject of an investigation by the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency, which had established an allegation of abuse against Spearman.

State knew of abuse allegations, sources say

Rawls is also charged with promoting or facilitating manslaughter for allegedly failing to protect her son, as well as multiple counts of endangering his welfare through abuse and neglect, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors say Spearman is also charged with causing seriously bodily injury to Moore, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The weapons in question are believed to be an iron rod, belt and/or a wooden stick, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

Spearman and Rawls are expected to be arraigned on the indictment Feb. 6 before Judge Ronald D. Wigler in Newark. Both are currently being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Two Bloomfield men have been sentenced to seven years in jail for their roles in the 2009 murder of a Kearny jeweler.

JERSEY CITY -- Two Bloomfield men have been sentenced to seven years in jail for their roles in the 2009 murder of a Kearny jeweler. 

Elvis Feratovic, 30, and Edmir Sokoli, 29, both pleaded guilty to robbery in connection with the death of Xavier Egoavil, who was killed inside his own jewelry store, Rachel Jeweler's. 

A jury in October found John DeRosa, 58, guilty of murdering Egovail. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole earlier this month. Feratovic and Sokoli both testified against DeRosa during the trial. 

According to the county's criminal records room, Feratovic and Sokoli must serve at least 85 percent of their sentences before being eligible for release. They were additionally sentenced to five years parole.

Feratovic admitted that he was the getaway driver on the morning of the Aug. 18 robbery at the Kearny Avenue jewelry store. He said he picked Sokoli up and drove to Kearny to meet with DeRosa.

Feratovic testified against DeRosa on the condition that he would receive a sentence of less than 20 years.  

Sokoli, who was inside the store at the time of the murder, testified that DeRosa shot Egovail -- a father of two children -- in the head when the jeweler became aggressive toward him during the robbery. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, Feratovic and Sokoli were being held at Hudson County jail. 

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.

 

State Attorney General Christopher Porrino also announced a new initiative to prevent victim and witness intimidation in New Jersey.

TRENTON -- More than 150 fugitives -- including some of New Jersey's most wanted alleged criminals -- have been arrested over the last three months in an ongoing statewide sweep, authorities announced Wednesday.

Many of those apprehended in the bust -- coordinated by the State Police fugitive unit -- include criminal gang members facing warrants for crimes such as murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, and drug trafficking, authorities said.

"Our goal was to target the most dangerous and violent fugitives, as well as those alleged to be drug dealers and drug traffickers," state Attorney General Christopher Porrino said in a news conference at the State Police's technology complex in Hamilton. 

READ: The full list of arrests

Porrino also announced a new initiative to prevent victim and witness intimidation in the Garden State, which he called a "corrosive problem" that "breeds more violence" -- especially in urban areas.

In addition to the arrests, authorities seized 11 firearms -- two of which were assault rifles -- 631 decks of heroin, and 60 vials of crack cocaine in the sweep, which began Nov. 1. 

Porrino noted that the work is tied to anti-addiction initiatives that Gov. Chris Christie has pushed throughout his tenure but more aggressively in recent weeks. 

"Unfortunately, most of the gun violence stems directly or indirectly from the drug trade," Porrino said.

State Attorney General Christopher Porrino speaks at Wednesday's news conference in Hamilton.Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

He added that the initiative remains active and could lead more arrests in the future.

"The sweep represents a significant step towards disrupting the violences that currently exists in some urban areas," Col. Rick Fuentes, the superintendent of the State Police, added.

Among those arrested were:

* Jeremy Arrington, 27, of Newark, who was wanted for a triple homicide in Newark that claimed the lives of two children, ages 8 and 11, and an adult women.  Arrington was also wanted for attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, sexual assault, and possession of a firearm for unlawful purpose. He was arrested in November in Newark. 

* Juprie Wadley, 19, of Trenton, who was wanted on charges of murder and weapons offenses stemming from the shooting death of a 15-year-old in Trenton last June. He was arrested last month in Trenton. 

* Kamal Sears, 36, of Atlantic City, who was wanted for escaping from a New Jersey Department of Corrections facility where he was serving a five-year prison sentence for multiple weapons offenses. He was arrested last month. 

* Otis Dennis, 21, of Milville, who was wanted for unlawful possession of a firearm. He was arrested in November in Millville, and it was discovered that he was out on bail from a previous murder charge. 

* Balil Burton, 26, of Atlantic City, who was wanted for an armed robbery in Galloway Township and is a member of the "Bloods" street gang. He was arrested last month in Atlantic City.

* Charles Willis, 24, of Trenton, who was wanted for aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a handgun, and possession of a handgun for unlawful purpose in connection with a shooting in Trenton. He was arrested in November.

Porrino noted that the state's recent bail reform allowed authorities to seek pretrial detention or protective conditions for pretrial release for some of the more dangerous defendants, while others have been released and ordered to appear at a later date.

He added that of the 29 arrested after Jan. 1 -- when the reform was enacted -- 22 remain in custody. 

"Overall, we're pleased with that outcome," Porrino said. "It shows that side of bail reform is working."

As for the initiative to combat victim and witness intimidation, Porrino said it involves a few facets: 

* Mandating that police and prosecutors be aggressive in arresting and prosecuting those who alleged intimidated victims or witnesses. 

* Developing an online training course within 90 days to train officers and prosecutors about the issue. 

* Directing prosecutors to notify police if they believe a defendant may use case materials that could reveal a victim or witness' identity to intimidate them 

* Mandating that officers and prosecutors use confidentiality and anonymity whenever possible to protect victims or witnesses. 

* Allowing the use of civil forfeiture funds to relocate witnesses. 

"Victim and witness intimidation drives a vicious cycle in which police and prosecutors are thwarted in charging and proving violent crimes," Porrino said. "With this directive, we're seeking to reverse that cycle."

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

Project Live, Inc. participated in the annual homeless count in Newark this week, which helps secure funding for housing grants.

NEWARK -- It was near midnight and Steven Taylor walked through Newark Penn Station with the familiarity of someone who knows all too well the feel and warmth of the walls and corners here. 

Taylor, 50, was once homeless. 

But on this night, Taylor approached those hidden beneath layers of clothes and bags, introducing himself as a case worker and asking if they'd fill out a survey for the state's annual homeless count.

Some backed away, further retreating into their respective corners; others warily agreed.  

"Let me step into your office here," Taylor told one gentleman, sliding two feet to his right to an imaginary space inside the station. He pulled out his clipboard and green leopard glasses.

"Where they are, that's their personal space," Taylor said, an outreach worker for Project Live, Inc. "It's a matter of courtesy and respect."

Every year, nonprofit groups like Project Live fan out across municipalities in New Jersey to count the homeless, painting a picture of who is living on the streets and why. 

Last year, at least 8,941 were homeless in the state -- 1,782 in Essex County. Final numbers for 2017 will be released in spring.

Counts are conducted annually during a 24-hour period by groups of case workers and volunteers who canvass train stations, airports, waterfronts and underpasses. 

The numbers are submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for funding purposes. They also give a "thumbnail sketch" of what the needs are in the city, said Ross Croessmann, executive director of Project Live, Inc. in Newark, whose team set out Tuesday night from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. 

'I know what it's like'

Taylor is unassuming and polite, often throwing his hands up in front of him to allay people's fears. 

"You're good," he says to those who are skittish around him. He remembers what it was like to be on the other side. 

Taylor was homeless for 10 years until he received supportive housing and mental health treatment. Until then, he mostly slept on a bench outside police headquarters.

"I used to be ashamed to share my story but now I share it to encourage others. Everybody has the potential to get on their feet," he said.  

The team abides by a set of ground rules: if someone is sleeping let them be, if an individual does not want to participate, don't insist. And most importantly: stick together. 

Croessmann says about 50 percent of homeless people have a disability, usually a substance abuse or mental health problem. 

The average homeless person is an African American male between the ages of 45-55 with substance abuse or mental health problem, he added. 

Alkeam Jones, 38, said he lost his warehouse job and has been homeless on and off for the last five years. All he wants is a job and financial stability.

"It is what it is," he said. 

Finding a home

Croessmann says his organization and others are prioritizing finding homes for the homeless and setting them up with job training and employment.

"Our goal is to make not just a house but a home," he said. "Everyone deserves to live with dignity."   

But he says the annual counts are usually underreported: Volunteers can't access abandoned homes and not everyone wants to do the survey. 

"A lot of people feel like I gave you my information before and I'm still out here, what have you done for me?" said Project Live outreach coordinator Debra Underwood, 62, of Paterson. "I try to be friendly."

Wearing green and purple sneakers and silver hoop earrings, she coaxes homeless people to open up to her, treating them like an old friend. Underwood is seasoned: She's been doing this since 2005. 

"We got something that can help you out," she tells one homeless woman, as she hands over a bag of toiletries with a smile. 

Taylor, too, has been working the streets for the last 10 years as a caseworker.

"I remind myself of what I don't want to go back to," he said. When you're in that situation, "you think homelessness is your spot in life. But no matter what you look like, smell like ... they have the potential to get back on their feet." 

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.