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Essex County Prosecutor's Office
Serving the People of Essex County, NJ
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Newark, N.J. – Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today that a Jersey City man has been charged with running a counterfeit sports merchandise operation out his mother’s garage in Lodi. Christopher Patire, 39, is charged with second-degree counterfeiting offenses. On March 11, 2026, at approximately 7:00 a.m., members of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Financial Crimes…
Newark, N.J.- Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today that Andre Higgs, 53, of Watchung, has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2015 murder of his former girlfriend Latrena May, of East Orange. The Honorable Ronald Wigler, J.S.C., presided over both the trial and the sentencing. On December 23, 2025, Higgs…
Newark, N.J.- Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today that an investigation is underway into a fatal accident involving an NJ Transit Bus that killed a woman in East Orange. On Monday, March 16, 2026, at approximately 6:00 a.m., the East Orange Police Department received a call reporting a crash involving a New Jersey Transit…
Newark, N.J.- Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today that a jury has convicted a Newark man of physically assaulting an adult woman and sexually assaulting a minor in Irvington in 2024. Caream Davis, 46, of Newark, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of first-degree kidnapping, one count…
Newark, N.J.-Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today that a jury has convicted a Newark man in connection with a 2023 fatal shooting that killed a woman and wounded another individual on a Newark street. Altaariq Palmer, 28, was convicted of second-degree passion provocation manslaughter, third-degree aggravated assault, and related weapons offenses. Assistant Prosecutor Daniel…
Newark, N.J.- Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today that a West Caldwell man has been charged in connection with the fatal hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a woman in Caldwell in January. Angelo Lotrecchiano, 82, of West Caldwell, is charged with second-degree leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death…
Newark, N.J.- .- Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today that a jury has convicted Justin Brown, 36, of Newark, of second-degree leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, third-degree endangering an injured victim, and third-degree tampering with physical evidence. Assistant Prosecutor Mira Ohm tried the case before the Honorable Patrick Arre, J.S.C.…
Newark, N.J.- Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Irvington Director of Public Safety Tracy Bowers today announced that an investigation is underway into a fatal fire that claimed the life of a man in Irvington on Monday, March 2, 2026. The fire, at an industrial building located at 286-298 Coit Street, was reported to the…
Newark, N.J.- Prosector Theodore N. Stephens announced today that a Newark man has been sentenced to 154 years in prison for the sexual assault of three minors. On November 14, 2025, Terrence Mells, 42, of Newark, was convicted by an Essex County jury of three counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, three counts of second-degree…
Newark, N.J.- Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today that a jury has convicted Jarell Riles, 35, of Newark, of first-degree felony murder, first-degree murder, as well as robbery and weapons offenses. Assistant Prosecutor Julianne Bollettieri and Assistant Prosecutor Nidhi Goel tried the case before the Honorable Ronald Wigler, J.S.C. The jury returned…
