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 Unit executed a search warrant at 45 Home Place in Lodi.

Investigators recovered approximately 1,400 items bearing altered professional sports leagues logos, with an estimated street value of over $62,000.

Patire is accused of manipulating official league logos and incorporating his own branding before selling the counterfeit merchandise through social media and his company’s website, CrisP NYC.  

These allegations are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The public is encouraged to report any information related to criminal activity by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.  All calls will remain confidential.

CHRISTOPHER PATIRE

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 was found guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun-his second conviction and life sentence for this murder.

Following the jury’s verdict, Higgs was also convicted of first-degree unlawful possession of a handgun by a person previously convicted of a crime under the No Early Release Act, as well as second-degree certain persons not to have weapons.

The prosecution proved that on May 1, 2015, Higgs shot and killed the 27-year-old teacher outside her East Orange home. The shooting occurred after May fled from Higgs and flagged down a police vehicle for help. As East Orange Detective Kemon Lee exited his vehicle and approached, Higgs fired multiple shots at May.  Detective Lee returned fire, striking Higgs in the legs.  After the shooting, Higgs barricaded himself inside the residence, where the couple’s then four-year-old daughter was sleeping.

Higgs was sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder, which is a 75-year term. Under the No Early Release Act (NERA), he must serve 85 percent of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He was also sentenced to an additional 20 years on the weapons convictions.

Higgs was previously sentenced to life in prison in 2017 following his initial conviction for murder. In 2023, the New Jersey Supreme Court overturned that conviction and ordered a new trial, ruling that Higgs’ attorneys should have been granted access to Detective Lee’s internal affairs records and permitted to cross-examine him about prior on-duty shootings.

After sentencing, Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab said, “Andre Higgs has once again been sentenced to life in prison—a consequence fully warranted by his extensive and violent criminal history as well as the brutal and senseless crimes he committed on May 1, 2015.  While no sentence can bring back Latrena May, we hope that knowing Higgs will spend the rest of his life in prison provides the May family with some measure of peace and serves as a solemn acknowledgment of their profound loss.”

The public is encouraged to report any information related to criminal activity by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.  All calls will remain confidential.

ANDRE 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 bus and a pedestrian at the intersection of Evergreen Place and Freeway Drive East. 

According to the preliminary investigation, the bus struck the pedestrian while making a right turn on Freeway Drive East.

The victim, Eva Malcom, 30, of Newark, was trapped underneath the bus. She was extricated and transported to University Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.

The driver remained on the scene.

This remains an open and active investigation. No additional information is available at this time.

The public is encouraged to report any information related to this accident by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.

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 of second-degree aggravated assault, one count of third-degree aggravated assault, one count of third-degree making terroristic threats, one count of third-degree criminal restraint, and two counts of third-degree endangering the welfare of a child.   

Assistant Prosecutor Logan Teisch and Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Wagner tried the case before the Honorable Michael L. Ravin, J.S.C.

The jury returned the verdict on Friday, March 6, 2026, following a four-day trial and two days of deliberations.

The prosecution proved that Davis punched a 51-year-old woman from behind while she was walking her dogs in the early hours of June 3, 2024, knocking her to the ground. He then repeatedly punched her while she was still on the ground. The defendant then walked a few blocks away, where he encountered a minor who was also walking his dog. After engaging the minor in conversation, he grabbed him by neck, strangled him, and carried him to the side of a building, where he sexually assaulted him. Davis also threatened to kill the victim during the attack.

The defendant fled New Jersey to Richmond Virginia in the days following the attack. He was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service and Richmond Police Department on June 5. He was extradited to New Jersey on June 10.

“The victims went outside that morning to simply walk their dogs. They could not have imagined how that ordinary task would change their lives forever. Both victims endured a harrowing ordeal at the hands of the defendant. The extraordinary courage it took for them to confront him in court cannot be overstated,” said Assistant Prosecutor Logan Teisch.

Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Wagner added “This outcome was only possible because of the bravery shown by the victims and the diligent work of the investigators involved. We thank the jury for their time and ultimately returning a just verdict.”

The assistant prosecutors thank investigators from the Irvington Police Department, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Richmond, Virginia Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI for their assistance in this investigation.

Davis is scheduled for sentencing on July 20, 2026. He faces a sentence ranging from 30 years to life in prison.

The public is encouraged to report any information related to criminal activity by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877 847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.

CAREAM DAVIS

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 Nicholas and Assistant Prosecutor Shelby Day tried the case before the Honorable Kevin Barry, J.S.C.    

The jury returned its verdict on Monday, March 9, 2026, after a 10-day trial.

On the evening of May 22, 2023, Newark police officers responded to a report of shots fired on the 900 block of 18^th Avenue. Upon arrival, police discovered Latoya Miller-Kone, 41, of Newark, lying on the sidewalk suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head. Miller-Kone was transported to University Hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.

Surveillance video captured a physical altercation involving Palmer and several individuals approximately 35 minutes before the shooting. Additional surveillance footage showed Palmer fleeing the scene on foot. Evidence presented at trial proved that Palmer later returned to the area wearing a mask and fired 14 rounds in the direction of the individuals involved in the earlier altercation. Miller-Kone, an innocent bystander, was struck and killed. Another individual was wounded.

Palmer is scheduled for sentencing on April 24, 2026.

The public is encouraged to report any information related to criminal activity by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.

ALTAARIQ PALMER

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 and third-degree endangering an injured victim.

On January 16, 2026, at approximately 6:30 p.m., the Caldwell Police Department responded to the area of the 400 block of Bloomfield Ave following a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.

Upon arrival, police officers found Sharon Thomas, 56, of Caldwell, unconscious in the roadway. The victim was transported to Mountainside Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.

Witnesses reported that Ms. Thomas had exited an NJ Transit bus and was crossing Bloomfield Avenue when she was struck by a vehicle. According to witnesses, Lotrecchiano stopped and exited the vehicle, before returning to it and fleeing the scene.

A second vehicle also struck Ms. Thomas while she was in the roadway. That vehicle pulled over, and the driver remained on the scene.

These allegations are merely accusations.  All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they enter a guilty plea or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The public is encouraged to report any information related to criminal activity by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432.  All calls will remain confidential.

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.

The jury returned its verdict on March 2, 2026, following a 10-day trial.

Brown was convicted in connection with the fatal hit-and-run that killed Alejandro Garcia, 38, of Passaic, on December 28, 2021.

The prosecution proved that at approximately 5:11 a.m. on December 28, 2021, Brown was operating a vehicle when he struck Garcia, who was standing at the corner of Third Avenue and McCarter Highway North in Newark. Garcia was transported to University Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Surveillance video introduced at trial showed Brown failed to stop after striking the victim and fled the scene. Later that day, the defendant arranged to have his car towed to a junkyard to destroy evidence.

Assistant Prosecutor Ohm said, “Mr. Garcia’s family has waited over four years for justice for this tragic loss.  I thank the jury for their focus and patience in reviewing the surveillance evidence and reaching this verdict.”

The prosecution also thanked investigators from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Newark Police Division, and the Kearny Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

Brown is scheduled for sentencing on April 16, 2026.

The public is encouraged to report any information related to criminal activity by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.

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 Irvington Fire Department at 3:11 a.m. on Monday.

The victim, who has not yet been identified, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

No other injuries were reported. The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation. There is no additional information available at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.

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 sexual assault, one count of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual assault, three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of first-degree witness tampering.

The Honorable Naazneen Khan, J.S.C. presided over both the trial and the sentencing.

Prosecutors proved that the defendant abused the minors multiple times between March 2015 and November 2023. The abuse began when the victims were 12, 13, and 14. Prosecutors also proved that Mells threatened one of his victims after learning that he was being investigated for sexual assault.

Assistant Prosecutor Cynthia Teller who tried the case with Assistant Prosector Christopher Byrnes said, “This sentence sends a clear message that those who prey on the vulnerable will be held fully accountable. The defendant’s actions were abhorrent and reprehensible. Because of the victims’ courage and the diligent work of law enforcement, justice has been served.”  

Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, Mells must serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Under Megan’s Law, the defendant is required to register as a sex offender and is subject to Parole Supervision for Life.

Anyone with information regarding any criminal activity is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.

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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 sexual assault, one count of third-degree aggravated criminal sexual assault, three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, and one count of first-degree witness tampering.

The Honorable Naazneen Khan, J.S.C. presided over both the trial and the sentencing.

Prosecutors proved that the defendant abused the minors multiple times between March 2015 and November 2023. The abuse began when the victims were 12, 13, and 14. Prosecutors also proved that Mells threatened one of his victims after learning that he was being investigated for sexual assault.

Assistant Prosecutor Cynthia Teller who tried the case with Assistant Prosector Christopher Byrnes said, “This sentence sends a clear message that those who prey on the vulnerable will be held fully accountable. The defendant’s actions were abhorrent and reprehensible. Because of the victims’ courage and the diligent work of law enforcement, justice has been served.”  

Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, Mells must serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Under Megan’s Law, the defendant is required to register as a sex offender and is subject to Parole Supervision for Life.

Anyone with information regarding any criminal activity is asked to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.

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 its guilty verdict on February 18, 2026, following five days of testimony.

Riles was convicted in the fatal shooting of Jose Gaona, 67, of Newark, on December 31, 2023.

The prosecution proved that Riles first robbed a man at gunpoint on Vessey Street in Newark during the early hours of December 31, 2023, forcing the victim to the ground and pistol-whipping him during the robbery. Riles then drove to Malvern Street, where he observed Gaona getting into his vehicle. He exited his car, confronted Gaona at gunpoint, and robbed him of his personal belongings. When Gaona attempted to re-enter his vehicle, Riles shot him seven times in the back, ultimately killing him.

Assistant Prosecutor Julianne Bollettieri said, “The death of Mr. Gaona and the violent robbery of the other victim are tragic and senseless crimes. We hope this conviction for these brazen acts of violence against members of the Newark community brings some sense of security to all Essex County residents.  While nothing can bring back the life that was lost, we hope this conviction will bring Mr. Gaona’s family some measure of closure.”

Assistant Prosecutor Nidhi Goel added, “No verdict can bring back the victim whose life was senselessly taken or fully heal the wounds of the surviving victim. However, the unanimous guilty verdict affirms that these senseless acts of violence will not go unpunished. Our deepest sympathies remain with both victims and their loved ones.”  

The prosecutors also thanked investigators from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Newark Police Division, the New Jersey State Police, and the Orange Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

Riles is scheduled to be sentenced on March 27, 2026.

The public is encouraged to report any information related to criminal activity by contacting the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.