Police have arrested and charged a 20-year-old Newark man with burglary after he allegedly stole several firearms from a parked car.

(file photo) 

NEWARK -- Police have arrested and charged a 20-year-old city man with burglary after he allegedly stole several firearms from a parked car, officials confirmed Friday.

Christopher Brown Jr. now stands charged with seven counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, burglary and criminal mischief in connection with the alleged robbery, said a spokesman for Newark Police Department.

According to police, Brown broke into a car parked in the 100 block of Clifton Avenue, stealing eight firearms.

After reporting the theft on Thursday, the car's owner, a local firefighter, told investigators that the guns were being stored inside the car temporarily while he relocated to a different residence, police department sources said.

Two of the eight firearms stolen were handguns, while the remaining six were "long guns," the sources said. 

The ensuing investigation into the theft led to the arrest of Brown, police officials said.

Additional details of the investigation were not made available. It remains unclear if the weapons were recovered during the investigation.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

 

County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo made a budget presentation earlier this week.

Essex County Treasurer Mark E. Acker, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Freeholder President Britnee Timberlake, Freeholder Vice President Brendan Gill and Freeholder Budget Consultant Francis McEnerney. (Photo by Glen Frieson) 

NEWARK -- Essex residents can expect to see a 1.9 percent county tax increase, according to a presentation of the county's $762 million proposed budget made Monday. The rate comes in just below the state mandated two percent tax cap.

The proposed tax increase would translate to $35 to the average Essex County homeowner with a house assessed at $390,000, county officials said.

According to an announcement from County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, the budget was designed with the goal of raising the county's bond rating from AA2 to AAA.

"Every year we are faced with a variety of challenges that affect our county," DiVincenzo said in a statement.

"By starting our planning process early...we are (able) to create a strong groundwork and sound financial plan...to follow throughout the year."

In a presentation of the budget, DiVincenzo pointed out several of the same cost-saving and revenue-gaining measures that were in place last year, like holding the number of county employees steady at 3,524, and housing federal inmates at the Essex County jail. The county executive also pointed out that over the past 13 years, Essex has the fifth lowest average county tax increase of all of the counties in New Jersey.

The total tax levy for the county is slated to increase from $413,249,000 in 2015 to $421,101,000. The balanced budget anticipates a surplus of $64.4 million by the end of 2016, county officials said. The budget also includes extra emergency snow removal and Mosquito Control funds, officials said.

"Rigorous planning and constant vigilance has helped us to respond proactively when we are faced with challenges brought on by the national economy, unexpected events or new laws," DiVincenzo said in a release.

The proposed budget now goes to the freeholder board for consideration.

Note: An earlier version of this post noted a $74 average increase. County officials have since revised the average to $35.

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

 

Teen was arrested after an anonymous tip, police said.

Teen was arrested after an anonymous tip, police said. (File photo) 

NEWARK -- A task force that has confiscated more than 30 illegal guns from city streets so far this year made its latest arrest of a teen carrying two handguns thanks to an anonymous tip, authorities announced in a release Thursday night.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested early Thursday morning after the Newark Police Division's Gang Enforcement Unit received a tip about illegal activities happening in the area of Raymond Plaza and West Market Street, announced Anthony Ambrose, the newly-minted public safety director.

Officers conducting surveillance in the area pulled the teen over, and saw him attempting to hide a handgun, officials said. After he was arrested, authorities found a second handgun on him, Ambrose said.

Newark council makes police, fire department shakeup official

Later Thursday, after a motor vehicle stop at South Orange Avenue and Bergen Street, authorities arrested David Dix, 30, a passenger in the car who allegedly had a gun tucked in his waistband, officials said.

Both were arrested on weapons charges, officials said.

The three confiscated guns bring the department's total to more than 30 so far this year, Ambrose said in the release.

"Because of their efforts, these are weapons that are off our streets and no longer pose a threat in our community."

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

 

The "undocuRutgers" fair provides information for "undocumented" immigrants who want to attend New Jersey colleges at in-state tuition rates under a new law.

NEWARK -- A controversial college fair for immigrants living in the country illegally is returning to Rutgers-Newark later this month, organizers said.

The fair, called undocuRutgers, was first held last year on the Newark campus to provide information for students who want to take advantage of a change in state law that allows "undocumented" immigrants to attend New Jersey colleges at in-state tuition rates.

"This event will explain the different process undocumented students face when applying to college and offer information on what resources are available," said Giancarlo Tello, a Rutgers-Newark student and one of the organizers. "Some community colleges will be present as an alternative venue into a college degree."

The inaugural undocuRutgers, first held last February, filled to capacity with more than 200 unauthorized immigrants and their families.

Unauthorized immigrants pack 'undocuRutgers' college admissions fair amid heightened security

However, Rutgers officials increased security and limited access to the event after the school received threats. Members of the media were also barred from the fair to help protect the privacy of the unauthorized immigrants, campus officials said.

Rutgers repeated the college fair on the New Brunswick campus in October, attracting more than 300 participants.

This year's undocuRutgers will be held Jan. 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Ackerson Hall on the Rutgers-Newark campus.

In addition to providing information about applying to Rutgers and local county colleges, students from Rutgers University School of Law will also give a presentation on legal issues. Immigrants living in the country illegally can apply to stay in the country temporarily under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals measure signed by President Obama in 2012.

In 2013, Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation, called the N.J. Dream Act, that allows children who were brought to the U.S. illegally to pay in-state tuition at New Jersey's public colleges and universities.

Under the previous system, students of any immigration status could apply to any two- or four-year college in New Jersey. However, students who could not prove they were living in the country legally were required to pay out-of-state tuition, which was often double the in-state rate.

In the fall of 2014, more than 300 unauthorized immigrants registered at New Jersey public colleges under the new Dream Act, according to a study released last year by New Jersey Policy Perspective, a think tank based in Trenton.

However, the study found many students living in the country illegally could not take advantage of New Jersey's new law because they could not afford the tuition at Rutgers and other public colleges.

Christie has opposed calls to broaden the new law to offer state financial aid to students living in the country illegally. Unauthorized immigrants are also not eligible for Pell Grants or federal financial aid.

The undocuRutgers fair will include information on other scholarships available to unauthorized immigrants, organizers said. Multiple translators will also be available at the event.

Students can register for the college fair at admissions.rutgers.edu/undocu.

"Any information provided on the registration website will remain confidential and will not be shared with any other organization or agency, both private or governmental," organizers said.

Codey breaks finger on the basketball court.

TRENTON -- Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex), underwent surgery Thursday to repair a busted index finger. For the longtime coach of youth basketball teams, it comes with the territory, he said.

So do the jokes.

"It was not (Senate President Stephen) Sweeney twisting my arm to vote for something," Codey told The Auditor Friday.

The break occurred a few weeks back during a practice with the fifth grade boys team in the Essex County travel league (which has a 4-1 record, Codey bragged).

"The kid threw me the ball. I thought it was jammed" -- something that has happened 30 or so times before. But when the sting persisted, the former governor visited the doctor and got some x-rays Wednesday.

The doctor said, "We gotta problem. You let it go too long," Codey said. Waiting any longer to correct the problem was not an option. The surgery was performed the next day at an out-patient center, he said.

Codey posted a Facebook photo of himself grinning in a hospital gown, his index and pinky fingers in a splint. 

"Here I am with my broken finger looking like the Giants JPP," referring to the Giants Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul who infamously blew up his hand in a fireworks accident on July 4 last year, mangling his right hand.

"Six weeks of this being a pain in my butt,"  Codey joked on Facebook.

Rondell Riddell, 28, formerly of Newark, led police on a chase through four Essex County towns in 2013 after his two co-defendants participated in the fatal shooting of Craig Pinckney, Jr. in East Orange

NEWARK -- A South Carolina man was sentenced on Friday to time served and three years of probation for acting as the getaway driver and leading police on a chase in 2013 after his two co-defendants were involved in a fatal shooting.

Rondell Riddell, 28, formerly of Newark, received the sentence after pleading guilty on Nov. 20 to an eluding charge in connection with the March 29, 2013 shooting of Craig Pinckney, Jr. in East Orange.

After his co-defendants - Rashi Finch, 21, formerly of Irvington, and Tarik Ford, 22, formerly of East Orange - participated in the shooting, they left the scene in a vehicle driven by Riddell, authorities said. Riddell led police on a chase through four Essex County towns, authorities said.

Riddell was only charged with eluding offenses and not charges related to the killing.

Under a plea agreement, prosecutors recommended a three-year state prison sentence for Riddell.

But Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler imposed the sentence of time served and three years of probation, because Riddell had spent 263 days in custody.

"I hope this is the last time we see you in not only this court, but any court, including down South," Wigler told Riddell near the end of Friday's hearing.

Earlier in the hearing, Riddell said he apologized for his actions. His attorney, Robert Miseo, also noted how Riddell has steady employment in South Carolina and was also involved in the National Guard.

"I think he's on the right track," Miseo told the judge. "Cleary, these incidents were an aberration in behavior."

The shooting occurred around 5 p.m. on Springdale Avenue, authorities said. While driving a patrol vehicle, an East Orange police officer heard shots being fired in the area of Springdale and Roosevelt Avenues, authorities said.

When the officer approached the scene, he saw Finch and Ford running away from Pinckney, who was laying on the ground in front of 267 Springdale Avenue with apparent gunshot wounds, authorities said.

Finch and Ford ran to a Saturn that was parked in front of 10 Roosevelt Avenue, authorities said. The officer activated his lights and sirens to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle sped off, authorities said.

The officer chased the Saturn throughout East Orange, Irvington and Newark before entering the Garden State Parkway and then Interstate 280 West, authorities said.

The vehicle ultimately stopped near exit 8 on Interstate 280 West in West Orange, where Finch, Ford and Riddell were taken into custody, authorities said.

Finch and Ford were sentenced on Oct. 20 to seven years and five years in state prison, respectively, after pleading guilty on Sept. 9 to charges related to Pinckney's death.

Finch pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter and unlawful possession of a weapon, and Ford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.

With his guilty plea, Finch admitted to gunning down Pinckney after the parties got into a struggle on Springdale Avenue.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Rev. Michael "Mitch" Walters is accused of fondling a 12-year-old boy in a confessional

An assistant pastor at a South Orange church has been removed from ministry amid allegations he sexually assaulted two minors in the early 1980s, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark confirmed.

The Rev. Michael "Mitch" Walters is accused of molesting a 12-year-old boy at St. Cassian Church in Montclair in 1982 and a 13-year-old girl in 1982 and 1983. He has denied the accusations. (Archdiocese of Newark) 

The Rev. Michael "Mitch" Walters, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, also has given up two archdiocese-wide positions.

Walters served as director of the Center for Ministerial Development, overseeing educational and spiritual enrichment programs for parishioners, and director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, which raises money for missionary and evangelical work.

The accused priest denies the allegations, said the spokesman, Jim Goodness.

"He said nothing had happened, that he did not do this," Goodness said.

Walters, 60, left ministry by mutual agreement with the archdiocese in October. NJ Advance Media learned of his removal recently. The allegations date to Walters' tenure at St. Cassian Church in Montclair.

One of the accusers, David Ohlmuller, said in a telephone interview the priest fondled him in a confessional on at least 10 occasions in 1982, when Ohlmuller was 12.

Ohlmuller, now 46 and a resident of Lake Bluff, Ill., said Walters also kissed him on the lips and gave him wine at the church. At the time, the accuser said, he was an altar boy and a student at St. Cassian School.

"He said not to tell anyone about what was happening, that nobody would believe me," said Ohlmuller, who teaches platform tennis, a racquet sport.

Ohlmuller said he eventually stopped attending Mass and avoided the church, cutting off contact with the priest.

Dave Ohlmuller, seen here in a collage of childhood photos from the 1980s, said he was molested as a child by the Rev. Michael "Mitch" Walters at a Montclair church. (Courtesy Dave Ohlmuller).

In the years afterward, he said, he developed anxiety, depression and substance abuse problems. His personal struggles came to a head, he said, when his own son turned 11 last year, reminding him of himself at around that age.

"A lot of memories started coming back," Ohlmuller said. "I needed to come forward. I couldn't live with this any longer. My aim is to get him out of the priesthood."

He said he first contacted Robert Hoatson, a former priest who now runs a New Jersey support group, Road to Recovery, for victims of sexual abuse. Hoatson, in turn, put Ohlmuller in touch with Boston-based attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who has represented hundreds of accusers since the clergy sex abuse scandal erupted in 2002.

Garabedian said he represents a second accuser, a woman now in her mid-40s, who contends Walters molested her in her Montclair home and on a trip to Pennsylvania during the same time period, when she was 13 and 14 years old.

The woman, who now lives in another state, wishes to remain anonymous, the lawyer said.

Garabedian said that in August, he informed the archdiocese he plans to file separate lawsuits on behalf of his clients if settlements cannot be reached.

"The attorney for the archdiocese is conducting his own investigation and will be responding to me," Garabedian said.

The archdiocese informed the Essex County Prosecutor's Office of the sexual assault allegations after Garabedian filed notice of a possible suit, a spokeswoman for the law enforcement agency confirmed.

Under the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a document written by the nation's bishops in the wake of the abuse crisis, priests are typically suspended from ministry swiftly after an accusation is made, regardless of its merit.

Asked why it took the archdiocese two months to remove Walters, Goodness said church leaders had very little information about the claim because the accuser declined to speak with a review board that evaluates such allegations.

"We had a nebulous accusation," Goodness said. "We knew the names of the accusers, but we did not know specifically what father was accused of, and today we still don't know."

When it was clear the accuser would not provide more information, Goodness said, "we didn't think it was something we should be waiting on any longer."

Hoatson and Garabedian questioned whether Walters remained in his administrative positions even after his suspension, noting parishioners across the archdiocese received a fundraising letter from the priest in December.

Goodness said the letter had been prepared months earlier, before Walters' removal, and had been "in the hopper for distribution."

"That was just a glitch," the spokesman said. "He was not in the office when the letters went out."

The establishment of civilian oversight should render the New Jersey plaintiffs' case moot, the NYPD argues in court.

NEWARK -- A proposed settlement creating civilian oversight of the New York City Police Department's surveillance activities should nix a federal lawsuit filed by New Jersey Muslims that they too were subject to allegedly illegal surveillance, the department said in a legal filing Friday.

The filing in federal court argues that the settlement, announced Jan. 7 in a separate but related lawsuit in New York, should render the New Jersey complaint moot, the latest filing says.

In the Jan. 7 action, the city agreed to add civilian oversight to its surveillance program and adhere to guidelines over the length of time an unproductive surveillance program should last. The city, which did not admit guilt, also agreed to pay the Muslim plaintiffs' legal fees.

"This settlement is important in light of escalating anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate crimes in the U.S., but at the same time we hope Mayor de Blasio will be more vocal about why the department was simply wrong to engage in religious profiling of the Muslim community in the first place," the Center for Constitutional Rights said in a statement at the time.

The settlement is pending a judge's approval in New York. 

Appeals court reverses dismissal of NYPD Muslim surveillance program 

The New Jersey case was first brought by several Muslims, mosques and a number of Muslim-owned businesses. They charged the NYPD's long-running surveillance program of the Muslim community that began in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks -- and came to light after a series of investigative reports by the Associated Press -- was unconstitutional.

Dossiers compiled by the police had documented so-called "locations of concern" in Newark -- listing the city's 44 mosques, many Muslim-owned restaurants and businesses and Islamic schools, as part of an undercover operation that sought to find and document where Muslims lived, worked and prayed.

NYPD officials defended the now disbanded program as legal and justified, and a later review ordered by then-Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa concluded there was no evidence to show the undercover operation violated New Jersey's civil or criminal laws.

But in a 2012 lawsuit filed in federal court in Newark, two advocacy groups --the center and Muslim Advocates -- challenged the spying program on behalf of the eight plaintiffs, charging that the program of "blanket, suspicion-less surveillance" was discriminatory because it focused on religion, national origin and race.

That suit was thrown out in 2014 by U.S. District Judge William Martini, but a Third Circuit panel of judges reversed his ruling last year, sending it back to him. 

In the latest filing, lawyers for New York also argue that the city is entitled to governmental immunity and that the charges were filed after the statute of limitations had passed, among other points.

Glenn Katon, the legal director for Muslim Advocates, said the plaintiffs will continue to press their case to protect their rights, although he said the settlement in New York was "a very positive development."

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. 

Rutgers-Newark professor Anna Stubblefield, 46, of West Orange, was convicted by a jury on Oct. 2 of sexually assaulting the 35-year-old victim

NEWARK — In letters written by supporters of Rutgers-Newark professor Anna Stubblefield, Superior Court Judge Siobhan Teare on Friday said the mother of two was described as a compassionate person who cares about people with disabilities.

But since Stubblefield sexually assaulted a disabled man, the judge said her actions are "the perfect example of a predator preying on their prey."

Stubblefield "took advantage of her position of power over someone that she knew or should have known was mentally and physically disabled and had no means to resist," Teare said.

A few moments later, the judge sentenced Stubblefield, 46, of West Orange, to 12 years in state prison for abusing the 35-year-old victim, known as D.J., in her Newark office in 2011. D.J. has cerebral palsy and is unable to speak beyond making noises.

Stubblefield has claimed she and D.J. fell in love, and that she communicated with him via a controversial typing method, known as "facilitated communication."

But an Essex County jury determined D.J. is mentally incompetent and could not consent to the sexual activity, and found Stubblefield guilty on Oct. 2 of two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault. She was facing between 10 and 40 years in prison.

RELATED: Professor loses bid to throw out conviction for sex assault of disabled man

Standing beside his mother on Friday in the Newark courtroom, D.J.'s brother grew emotional as he discussed how Stubblefield "raped" D.J. and harassed their family.

"I don't think Anna understood the depth of pain she caused my family," the brother said.

"An able-bodied woman raped a disabled young man that could not consent to sex," he later added. "You were wrong, Anna. You committed a crime. There is no gray area."

Stubblefield must serve slightly more than 10 years before becoming eligible for parole. After her release from prison, she will be subject to parole supervision for life and she must comply with the reporting requirements of the state's Megan's Law.

Since Stubblefield was convicted of two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, her position as a Rutgers professor is forfeited and she will be disqualified from any future public employment, according to the judge.

The former chairwoman of the Rutgers' philosophy department, Stubblefield was dressed in a pink prison jumpsuit and appeared mostly calm throughout Friday's hearing.

In brief remarks before receiving her sentence, Stubblefield apologized and expressed "my dismay and my regret and my sorrow that my actions have led to so much distress."

But Stubblefield's teenage daughter, Zoe, then stepped to the front of the courtoom and struck a more aggressive tone.

(L-R) Defense attorney James Patton looks toward his client Rutgers-Newark professor Anna Stubblefield, as she addresses the court before being sentenced to 12 years for sexually abusing a disabled man in her Newark office in 2011. Newark, NJ 1/15/16 (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Robert Sciarrino

Zoe Stubblefield, whose parents are divorced, claimed her estranged father drove her mother to D.J., and she refuted the claims by D.J.'s family about his mental incompetence. With her mother being in prison, Zoe Stubblefield said she is "forced to take care of myself."

Zoe Stubblefield said she has a mental disability and that her mother is "a very good person" who has taken care of her. Referring to her mother, Zoe Stubblefield said "her being in prison is simply not fair at all."

"She's never done anything wrong in her whole life," said Zoe Stubblefield, referring to her mother. "She's like the cleanest, most goody-two-shoes woman I've ever met."

After returning to her seat, Zoe Stubblefield was ultimately removed from the courtroom by Essex County sheriff's officers, because she had an outburst during the statement of D.J.'s brother.

When D.J.'s brother said he and his mother were praying for the Stubblefield family, including her ex-husband, Zoe Stubblefield shouted an expletive in regard to her father and D.J.'s brother.

The long-running case has centered on the extent of D.J.'s disabilities and whether he was able to communicate with Stubblefield.

During the trial, the state presented testimony from psychologists who determined D.J. is mentally incompetent and cannot consent to sexual activity. As a result of his cognitive impairments, D.J.'s mother and brother have been designated as his legal guardians.

D.J. also wears diapers and requires assistance with walking, bathing, dressing and eating, his mother testified during the trial.

But Stubblefield claimed during the trial that D.J. is not intellectually impaired and was able to communicate through facilitated communication. Under that technique, Stubblefield said she provided physical support to D.J. as he typed messages on a keyboard.

Critics argue the technique is ineffective, saying studies have shown the facilitators are controlling the users' movements. Several scientific organizations have declared the technique is invalid.

MORE: Professor found guilty of sexually assaulting disabled man

Stubblefield first met D.J. in 2009 through his brother, then a Rutgers student, who was taking a course of Stubblefield's. During one class, Stubblefield presented a video that dealt with facilitated communication, and the brother later asked her for more information about the method to see if it might help D.J.

Over the next two years, Stubblefield worked with D.J. through facilitated communication. During the trial, she claimed D.J. was able to communicate through the typing method, including by writing papers that were presented at conferences and essays for a literature class at Rutgers.

Stubblefield said she and D.J. fell in love and ultimately disclosed their sexual relationship to his mother and brother in May 2011. Looking to have Stubblefield keep her distance, the brother ultimately reported the matter to a Rutgers official and the university later contacted Essex County prosecutors.

During Friday's sentencing, Stubblefield's attorney, James Patton, called for a more lenient sentence, saying she "intended no harm and anticipated no harm."

Patton said Stubblefield did not believe D.J. was mentally defective or physically helpless, but instead considered him intelligent and able to consent. He said she did not try to exploit him, but she was "trying to open up the world so that he could communicate with other people."

"She was a woman who had fallen in love," Patton told the judge, later adding: "This is simply a woman who grossly miscalculated the intelligence of the individual that she believed that she was in a relationship with."

But Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Eric Plant, who tried the case, "used her position of power to carry out this crime upon D.J. and his family." He argued Stubblefield presented herself to D.J.'s family that she could be "his only voice."

"That is how she was able to groom him for sexual behavior," Plant said during the hearing. Plant called for a 15-year prison sentence for Stubblefield.

In a news release, Plant later added that Stubblefield "used her position to prey on the victim.

"What she did was not only criminal, it was cruel. Knowing how desperately families of disabled individuals are for some hope, she mislead the victim's family into believing that she was making progress in helping their son to communicate while all the while she was simply satisfying her own tawdry desires," Plant said in the release. "In the process, she did great damage to this young man, his family and even her own family."

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The 59-year-old victim was one of several killed during a surge of violence in August

NEWARK -- A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murdering a man during a stretch of violence that rocked the city over the summer, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray and Acting Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement.

 

The teen, whose name was withheld because of his age, was arrested Friday when he was spotted near Oliver and Jefferson streets following an investigation by the Major Crimes Task Force, prosecutor's spokesman Thomas Fennelly said. He was being held at the Essex County Youth House and is scheduled to appear in the Family Division of Superior Court next week.

Authorities say the teen shot Jesus Santi, 59, in the 300 block of N. 12th Street early on the morning of Aug, 27, 2015. Santi was a resident of Newark and Chester, Pa. Santi was killed about a week after a string of violent incidents that claimed six lives. None of the incidents were believed to be related.

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

Babatope Owoseni, 36, of East Orange, has filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea in connection with the Dec. 27, 2013 strangling death of 26-year-old Fatoumata Owoseni

NEWARK -- Nearly 10 months after admitting he strangled his pregnant wife to death in their East Orange home, Babatope Owoseni is looking to take it back.

Owoseni, 36, has filed a motion to withdraw the guilty plea he entered on March 19, 2015 in connection with the Dec. 27, 2013 killing of 26-year-old Fatoumata Owoseni, who was nine months pregnant at the time.

The unborn child died as a result of the attack, authorities said.

During a brief hearing on Friday, Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler said Owoseni's attorney, John Haggerty, had filed the motion on Thursday.

Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Ralph Amirata, who is handling the case, told the judge he would be able to file a response to the motion after receives the transcript of Owoseni's plea hearing.

Wigler said Amirata would hopefully file his response by next Friday or soon afterward, and the judge instructed the attorneys to return to court on Feb. 5 for oral arguments on the motion.

Owoseni remains in custody at the Essex County Correctional Facility in lieu of $750,000 bail. Owoseni initially indicated last year that he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea.

Outside the courtroom after Friday's hearing, Haggerty declined to discuss the specific defense arguments being made as part of the motion.

RELATED: N.J. man accused of killing pregnant wife looks to withdraw guilty plea

Owoseni had been charged with murder in his wife's death. A murder charge carries a minimum sentence of 30 years in state prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, which equates to 75 years.

Under a plea agreement, Owoseni pleaded guilty to an aggravated manslaughter charge and prosecutors agreed to recommend a 16-year prison sentence for him, authorities said. Under that sentence, Owoseni would have to serve 14 years before becoming eligible for parole.

In pleading guilty, Owoseni admitted to killing his wife during an argument in their East Orange home, authorities said.

Although the unborn child died as a result of the attack, Owoseni cannot be charged under state law with the murder of the unborn child.

New Jersey is one of only a dozen states where an unborn child is not recognized as a victim of a crime in the homicide of a pregnant woman, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The other 38 states have so-called "fetal homicide laws," the group states.

During the New Jersey Legislature's two-year legislative session that ended on Tuesday, Republican State Assembly members introduced a fetal homicide bill to make the death of an unborn child constitute a separate act of murder in New Jersey when the expecting mother is killed.

Under the bill, a person convicted of fetal homicide would be sentenced to 20 years in prison without parole.

The legislation, called the "Motherhood Violence Act," was introduced in December 2014 and referred to the Assembly Women and Children Committee, but the committee never voted on transferring the bill to the full Assembly for a vote.

Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Police reports shed new light on the killing of a 43-year-old Newark father.

NEWARK -- The shooting death of a 43-year-old city man early Wednesday morning may have been captured on video, according to police reports obtained by NJ Advance Media.

Thomas Smith died shortly after midnight at University Hospital in Newark after Newark police officers found him lying in front of a South 14th St. residence suffering apparent gunshot wounds, said a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

According to the reports, members of Smith's immediate family were among the first civilians to arrive at the scene. Shortly after the police arrived, a young male approached officers and identified Smith as his father, the reports say.

Investigators at the scene were later approached by a person claiming to have video footage of the incident, the reports state.

Asked for comment on the reports, a spokesman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office declined, citing the ongoing investigation into Smith's killing.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/43-year-old_newark_man_killed_in_overnight_newark.html

Details of the incident included in the reports indicate that Smith was shot multiple times. Several bullet casings were found inside and outside the home, the reports say.

Investigators also discovered multiple holes where bullets passed through the building's facade, the reports state.

Attempts to reach the residents of the home and Smith's immediate family members were unsuccessful.

An investigation into the killing by the prosecutor's office Homicide Task Force is ongoing, Carter said.

Smith's death brought the city's 2016 homicide total to four.

Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A serious fire early Saturday morning on Union Avenue has left a family of three homeless, a fire official said.

A fire on Union Avenue has left a family of three homeless, an official said. (File photo) 

BELLEVILLE -- A fire early Saturday morning on Union Avenue left a family of three homeless, a fire official said.

The fire started around 3:45 a.m. at 264 Union Ave., and the first unit of the Belleville Fire Department was on the scene "in four minutes," according to Belleville Battalion Chief Timothy Buckley.

The fire, which officials believe began in the kitchen, was under control in about an hour and a half, Buckley said, but it caused "extensive damage."

The fire filled voids in the walls and reached the attic space, Buckley said. Though the mother, father and child weren't hurt, it is unclear at this time if their home is salvageable, he said.

Fire crews battle Belleville blaze (PHOTOS)

"There was a lot of hidden voids, based on the construction" that kept the fire hidden, he said, but the family members "were safely evacuated and they have been accommodated."

Belleville Essex WF 264 Union Ave Fire all floors 2.5 story frame. Evac tones. MA on scene. pic.twitter.com/GWHO2R3Upp

-- NorthJersey FireNews (@NJFires) January 16, 2016

The family is being placed at a temporary living space by the Red Cross, the battalion chief said. Firefighters sustained a couple minor injuries, and one firefighter visited the hospital, but there were no hospital stays, he said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it doesn't appear suspicious at this time, he added. 

Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 

New Jersey's winter landscape remains snowless, gray and frankly just plain 'blah' as we head into the dead of winter. The best way to liven and brighten your backyard vista? Put up a bird feeder. But when the birds arrive for lunch, can you identify them? We've selected 10 of the most common visitors to winter feeding stations from...

New Jersey's winter landscape remains snowless, gray and frankly just plain 'blah' as we head into the dead of winter. The best way to liven and brighten your backyard vista? Put up a bird feeder.

But when the birds arrive for lunch, can you identify them? We've selected 10 of the most common visitors to winter feeding stations from Cape May to High Point. How many can you identify? Take our quiz to find out. Share your score and any other birding questions or observations in the comments.  

St. Thomas the Apostle School student look back at history for social studies assignment.

St. Thomas the Apostle School fifth-grader Marissa Munoz of Bloomfield with the newspaper her group made for a social studies assignment.St. Thomas the Apostle School 

BLOOMFIELD -- Recently, the fifth-grade students at St. Thomas the Apostle School became news reporters, but with a twist. Instead of reporting on current events, they took a look back more than 230 years to cover news from the American Revolution.

Teacher Thomas Petrillo's students worked in groups to research historic battles and write about them to create newspapers for a social studies project.

The students reported on events such as the battles of Yorktown and Bunker Hill. They also created political cartoons that depicted events from the American Revolution to include in their newspapers.

To submit school news send an email to essex@starledger.com.

Following a national trend, at least 10 New Jersey colleges, including Rutgers University, have implemented full or partial bans on the popular self-balancing scooters.

Winter break is nearly over at New Jersey's colleges, which means it's time for students to pack their bags, say goodbye to their families -- and leave their hoverboards behind.

Following a national trend, at least a dozen New Jersey colleges, including Rutgers University, have implemented full or partial bans on the popular hoverboard and other self-balancing scooters.

The colleges point to dozens of reported hoverboard fires and say they worry the boards could become a safety hazard on campus.  

"I just don't want to have a situation where we have a fire because of one of these and we had prior knowledge that they were not safe," said Len Dolan, managing director of fire safety at Kean University, which instituted a ban. "I don't want to react to a problem. I want to be proactive and prevent a problem."

The hoverboard, a popular holiday gift made by several different brands, has the same name as a levitating board seen in the "Back to the Future" movie series. But unlike in the movie, the board doesn't actually hover. It's more like a motorized skateboard or a hands-free scooter.

Though trendy, the hoverboard has generated controversy because of injuries sustained by riders and its propensity for catching on fire while its battery is charging. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating 37 reported fires in 19 states, including four in New York, two in New Jersey and one in Pennsylvania, spokesman Carl Purvis said.

A hoverboard notably caught fire in Lacey Township in December. Meanwhile, local emergency rooms reported a series of injuries from hoverboard riders hurt in accidents. 

The boards have been banned on flights operated by major airlines, and New York City outlawed them, saying they violate traffic laws.

However, the safety commission has yet to complete its investigation, and the makers of hoverboards and self-balancing scooters have defended the safety of the products.

State Police have affirmed that hoverboards remain legal in New Jersey. 

Regardless, colleges say they don't want to see students to get hurt or start a fire in a campus building. 

Rutgers, Montclair State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Kean, Drew, Seton Hall, Rider, Stockton and Rowan universities have banned hoverboards on all or part of their campuses. Centenary College, New Jersey Institute of Technology and the College of New Jersey have also taken steps to limit hoverboard use. 

"Numerous recent accounts detail a variety of the risks associated with 'hover boards,' ranging from serious falls to fires caused by their batteries igniting during charging," Drew University said in a letter to students.

Seton Hall left little wiggle room for students to get around the ban. It outlawed "hoverboards, self-balancing scooters, battery-operated scooters, hands-free segways, electric-powered skateboards and similar devices," according to the university. '

At Kean, the university will confiscate all hoverboards.

"The last thing you want to have is a fire in a dorm room," Dolan said. 

Not all schools are banning the boards, though.

Princeton University is waiting to receive state or federal guidance about the product before taking action, spokeswoman Min Pullan said. In the meantime, the university sent an email with hoverboard safety tips to students and faculty who live on campus, she said. 

As the Consumer Product Safety Commission continues to investigate, it advises anyone riding a hoverboard or self-balancing scooter to stay off the streets and wear a helmet and elbow pads. It also recommends that hoverboards not be charged overnight. 

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

New Jersey Institute for Social Justice CEO argues that this remains the great unfinished business of the civil rights movement: empowering people of color through economic equality and mobility.

By Ryan P. Haygood 

Over the past year and a half, we watched as residents of several communities across this nation -- moved by long-simmering frustration and anger -- took to the streets to protest the killings of unarmed black people by members of law enforcement.

The protests in places such as Baltimore; Ferguson, Mo.; Staten Island, N.Y.; Waller County, Texas; and Chicago were triggered by violent encounters with law enforcement and the enduring effects of poverty, racism and disinvestment in those communities, calling to mind the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s powerful admonition: "A riot is the language of the unheard."

In 1967, a similar rebellion here in my city, Newark, was sparked by police abuse and decades of crushing poverty and a lack of opportunity. Ultimately, the Newark rebellion claimed the lives of 26 people and left hundreds more seriously injured.

King penned his last book, "Where Do We Go From Here," the same year as the Newark rebellion and the year before his assassination. In it, King posits that, given the challenges we face, we have only two options: to embrace chaos or community. King argued that true equality would not be realized until black people, in coalition with other poor people, could secure meaningful employment and earn a living wage.

Nearly 50 years later, we have much work to do in bending our neighborhoods toward a community in which economic equality is achieved. Indeed, a recent Brookings Institute study vividly demonstrates that, in terms of economic opportunity, there are still two Americas, sharply divided by race.

First, the study explains that upward mobility from the lower end of the income distribution is substantially less likely for black than white Americans, as half of black Americans who are born poor stay poor. Second, even for black Americans born in the middle class, an incredible 7 out of 10 will fall below as adults.

As a result, the Pew Research Center reports that gaps in the already-wide wealth divide have grown, with the median wealth of white households now 13 times greater than that of black households, the largest gap in a quarter of a century. This means that about one-quarter of black families have less than $5 in savings, as compared with $3,000 for low-income white families.

Here in Newark, the poverty rate for black people is a striking 33 percent, more than double the national average for all races. This poverty is tied to a lack of reliable income through full-time work. In Newark, 95 percent of people living in poverty do not have a full-time job. 

 

It is therefore not uncommon to see Newark residents on weekday mornings waiting in an unemployment line that spans nearly a city block, while on the other end of the same street, the city is in the middle of a construction boom, with over $1 billion dollars of construction projects recently completed, underway or in the pipeline.

And yet, notwithstanding this major construction, new businesses coming to the city and expansions of several industries, local residents hold fewer than 20 percent of all jobs in Newark. Put differently, 80 percent of those who work in Newark -- from corporate employees to first responders to educators to those who work at the Newark Port -- do not live in the city.

We simply cannot empower healthy urban communities where so few local residents are employed in the city. Just as local residents share in the challenges associated with living in Newark, so too should they be empowered to share in its prosperity.

Consistent with King's vision for economic equality, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, in close collaboration with community partners, Mayor Ras Baraka and the city of Newark, is launching an ambitious initiative to combat poverty by connecting unemployed Newark residents to work. Through community engagement, cutting-edge research and writing, public education, advocacy and other strategies, our ambitious initial goal is to eliminate the unemployment gap between Newark, one of the poorest cities in the state, and New Jersey, one of the wealthiest states in America.

Our ultimate charge is to ensure that the maximum possible number of Newark residents are competitive candidates and receive due consideration for positions in each industry. This remains the great unfinished business of the civil rights movement: empowering people of color through economic equality and mobility.

And that's what this moment requires of us: that we embrace King's vision of social justice and economic equality, and commit to bending our neighborhoods toward the beloved community.

Ryan P. Haygood is CEO and president of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, a leading social justice legal organization on behalf New Jersey's urban communities. A Newark resident, he formerly served as deputy director of litigation of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. 

There are a number of ways to make New Year's resolutions beneficial for both people and their pets.

As people and their pets start a new year, there are a number of ways to make resolutions beneficial for both.

According to a 2016 Milk-Bone Canine Resolutions Survey, the top pledge for the new year is "I will spend more time with my dog." Other pledges range from both humans and dogs eating more nutritiously to personal care including weight loss and dental hygiene.

Milk-Bone pet insights expert Jesse Vasquez has some suggestions.

"Have a resolutions buddy." Because dogs follow through with rituals even better than humans, you can better stick to your personal health and wellness goals by including your pet. The survey noted that 55 percent of dog parents say their dog helps them exercise more.

MORE: Mayor urges public to adopt dogs, cats abandoned in North Bergen

"Create nighttime rituals." Because such rituals help calm and relax people and pets, try to stick with a regular routine that focuses on stress-reducing activities like a soothing petting session with your dog while watching your favorite television program.

"Give Yourself a reward." Just as dogs love treats when they exhibit good behavior, make sure you regularly reward yourself and your dog for following through on resolutions.

Here's a gallery of adoptable pets from northern and central New Jersey. Other galleries of pets in need can be seen here and here.

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

In honor of MLK Day 2016, The Backgrounder chats with Russell Graddy, who was in Paterson with Martin Luther King, Jr. shortly before the day that forever changed America.

By Paul Brubaker | The Backgrounder

Just days before he was assassinated, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at the Community Baptist Church in Paterson. Russell Graddy was among those in a small group of people working to ensure his safety.

Russell Graddy 

"We knew that there were those who didn't believe in what he was doing. He had reached a point where we were concerned about that," said Graddy, a businessman who owns Mr. G's Diner in Paterson.

Graddy said he had met King on a number of occasions, and even spent time alone with him when he came to Paterson. But he never got the feeling that he was with someone who would be historically revered, someone who would one day be honored with a monument in Washington, D.C.

"I was just with a young African American man who was very dynamic in speaking and very dedicated to the cause," Graddy said. "We were guys who believed in civil rights and who believed that we should fight the fight, nonviolently of course."

Rev. Allan Boyer (left) and Rev. Michael McDuffie 

In a special edition of The Backgrounder Podcast, Graddy remembers the Dr. King he knew. In the same episode, Rev. Allan Boyer, the present pastor of the church King visited (now called the Bethel A.M.E. Church) and Rev. Michael McDuffie, President of the Paterson Pastor's Workshop, talk about Dr. King's teachings and whether they can be applied today to achieve racial equality.

You can hear the entire episode by clicking on the orange play button at the top of this page. 

Paul Brubaker, former journalist and congressional spokesman, keeps it real with the people who make New Jersey the most fascinating place on Earth. Check back every week for a new episode of 'The Backgrounder.' 

The deal to hand over the district's prescription benefits plan to Benecard, owned by former Senate and gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester, was signed last week

NEWARK -- The city's school district is facing criticism for unilaterally approving a no-bid health contract for a politically connected health insurance firm, though officials contend its dire financial position left it with little choice.

Last week, Superintendent Christopher Cerf signed off on the deal that on Feb. 1 will transfer prescription drug benefits for all school system employees to Benecard, a Lawrenceville-based company owned by former U.S. Senate and gubernatorial nominee Doug Forrester.

The switch, which officials say is expected to save the state-controlled district $1.1 million annually, came after an analysis of three providers performed by its insurance broker, Conner Strong & Buckelew. The firm is run by George Norcross, the South Jersey Democratic power broker and ally to Gov. Chris Christie, and has also served as broker for Benecard.

The move met with a strong reaction from the Newark Teachers Union, who accused Cerf of violating both its contract and pledges made when he arrived in Newark in July in order to curry favor with Trenton power players.

"He went on national television, local media, promising transparency and honesty," said union president John Abeigon. "If awarding a no-bid contract to a politically supported entity is part of that, well, at least he's transparent in that."

The district fired back, saying that in addition to the considerable annual savings, the switch away from the NTU's longtime provider, the self-funded General Prescription Plan would not require the district to pay all claims, and shift some risk to Benecard. It also denied that there were any political motivations behind the switch.

Top Newark schools official announces exit from district

"Newark Public Schools has only one objective -- to select a prescription benefits program that provides benefits equivalent to our current provider at a lower cost," Cerf and other administrators said in a Jan. 12 letter to the state Department of Education.

The dispute between the district and its teacher and administrators' unions dates back to May, when school officials attempting to close an imposing budget deficit approached the Supplemental Fringe Benefits Fund - an unusual joint trust that has provided dental, vision and prescription benefits to the city's teachers since the early 1970s -- with a proposal to change its carrier to Benecard.

According to school officials, Abeigon, one of eight trustees from both the union and NPS, balked at the proposal and insisted that any switch be preceded by a public bid for his union only -- a tactic Cerf and other officials contend eventually forced its hand.

"Due to Mr. Abeigon's opposition, the SFBF deadlocked, thus preserving the status quo indefinitely and denying the District's ability to realize a much-needed cost savings at a time of great financial exigency," they said in their recent letter to the state.

The district has also raised concerns about the General Prescription Plan's business practices, saying its financial controls are "weak, at best, and suspect, at worst" and has refused to hand over itemized summaries for its roughly $1 million in monthly service fees.

School officials also purport to pay $30,000 per month in administrative fees to the SFBF, while Benecard will be managed entirely in-house.

Abeigon, however, disputed that there was any malfeasance on the GPP's part, saying medical privacy laws kept them from handing over itemized records from anyone outside the SFBF. He also denied that he played any role in pushing officials into their unilaterla action.

"They don't need anyone's permission to put out a bid for the entire district. They can do that anytime they feel like it," he said.

The union has filed a complaint with the state's Public Employment Relations Commission alleging the district has violated a portion of its contract banning no-bid deals for medical benefits.

GPP is the current provider for three of Newark's larger school-based unions, including teachers, food service employees and trade workers such as custodians and security guards. Other employees, including administrators, are covered by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

In addition to forgoing the open bidding process, Cerf also approved the contract without seeking approval from the city's School Advisory Board. Though the board holds no actual power over the district's financial affairs, most service agreements are presented to it for apro all.

Marques Aquil-Lewis, the board's vice chairman, said he and other members planned to push the district to present it for a vote at a business meeting scheduled for Tuesday.