Prosecutor: Raritan Attorney Charged With Sex Crimes Found Dead in Car

2-2-16 New Jersey:

RARITAN, NJ - Attorney Richard O. Schubach was found dead in his car Tuesday morning from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, a few days after he was charged with three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct resulting from an undercover operation by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.

Borough police discovered Schubach in his car in a parking lot adjacent to his office at 1124 Route 202 at 7:35 a.m. Tuesday, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano. Police received a "welfare request" phone call from someone looking for Schubach; he was thought to have been in his office, according to Soriano.

Police say Schubach was unresponsive with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest.

The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes detectives responded to the scene to assist Raritan Borough police. Schubach was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:05 a.m. by EMT’s from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset.

Shubach was transported to the New Jersey Northern Medical Examiner’s Office where a post mortem examination will be conducted.

Ex-DPW Super Commits Suicide Rather Than Face Child Porn Plea

4-30-2013 New Jersey:

Morristown man died night before he was due to appear in Superior Court in Morristown.

Former Morristown Public Works Superintendent Charles E. Jones III, who was indicted in February on charges of distributing child porn over the Internet, took his own life last week, the Daily Record reported.

Defense attorney Clifford Weininger, told the paper that "the stress, the embarrassment and the disgrace caused him to do this." Weininger said he knew Jones for at least 15 years as a man who was hard-working single father who raised a daughter on his own and put her through college.

Weininger told the Daily Record that the state was offering a plea bargain of about five years in prison, and Jones was preparing to accept the offer, though Weininger anticipated arguing for no more than three years behind bars. Jones was due in court on April 24 for a status conference, but hanged himself at his home the night before, Weininger told the paper.

Jones, 51 and a Morristown resident, took a leave of absence after he was arrested in April and remained on leave until he resigned July 17, Town Administrator Michael Rogers said. Jones worked for the town for 11 years.

Jones was indicted on charges of second-degree distribution of child pornography, second-degree offering child pornography, and fourth-degree possession of child pornography. Jones was among 27 defendants arrested last year as a result of “Operation Watchdog," which targeted the distribution of child pornography using file sharing software.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a $150,000 fine, while fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. ..Source.. by Kim Tran

Veteran Ocean County detective facing child sex assault charges found dead

10-30-2011 New Jersey:

STAFFORD — Authorities say a veteran Ocean County Prosecutor's Office detective who was facing child sexual assault charges apparently committed suicide this weekend.

Executive Assistant County Prosecutor Michael Palhus tells the Asbury Park Press of Neptune that Sgt. Ronald Velardi's body was found around 3 a.m. Sunday in a wooded area of Stafford Township, where Velardi lived.

Palhus said authorities had received "information" that led them to start searching for Velardi on Saturday night, but would not provide further details.

Velardi, who had served with the prosecutor's office for many years, had been suspended after his arrest in June. He faced four counts of sexual assault and three counts of child endangerment in a case that authorities say involved two girls. ..Source..

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Ocean County veteran investigator accused of sexually assaulting two underage girls

6-10-2011 New Jersey:

A veteran investigator with the Ocean County prosecutor’s office was charged today with sexually assaulting two underage girls.

Det. Sgt. Ronald Velardi, 44, of Manahawkin was arrested 10 a.m. while on duty at a satellite division of the prosecutor’s office in Toms River, said Joel Bewley, a spokesman for the Burlington County prosecutor’s office.

He said investigators had Velardi under surveillance prior to his arrest.

Although Velardi is an Ocean County resident, Burlington County authorities were called into the case along with the state Division of Criminal Justice to avoid a conflict of interest by having his own agency conduct the investigation.

Velardi, who has worked for the prosecutor’s office for at least a dozen years, was charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault and three counts of child endangerment, Bewley said.

Three of the sexual assault charges relate to one girl and the other sexual assault charge involves another girl, both minors, Bewley said. He would not say how old they are or how they know Velardi.

Authorities filed one child endangerment charge for each of the alleged victims and for a boy, who is also a minor, Bewley said. He declined to disclose the boy’s age or say how he knew Velardi.

The charges cover acts that allegedly occurred since January, Bewley said.

Velardi, who is married and has three children, is being held in the Burlington County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.

He was suspended without pay and had to surrender his firearms and credentials, Bewley said. Bewley would not comment on what may have been seized at Velardi’s Beach Lane home.

Velardi, who earns $99,993, was promoted to sergeant on Dec. 16, according to records of the Ocean County Board of Freeholders. If convicted of the sexual assault charge, Velardi could face from five to 10 years in prison.

Deputy Chief Michael Mohel, a spokesman for the Ocean County prosecutor’s office, declined to comment on the arrest. ..Source.. by NJ.com

Jersey City man facing sex crime charges kills himself after state troopers arrive to arrest him on new charges

10-22-2011 New Jersey:

A Jersey City man facing sex crime charges fatally shot himself in the chest when State

Police troopers came to his home Thursday to arrest him in connection with another sexual assault, officials said Friday.

When state troopers and detectives of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office went to the Gifford Avenue residence of Eric Martin, 29, at 7 p.m. they were met by a woman who refused to let them in, reports said.

As the officers spoke to the woman, they heard a gunshot and entered the home to find Martin unresponsive on a bed with a gunshot wound to his chest, State Police Lt. Stephen Jones said. Martin was alone and there was no evidence anyone else had been in the room, said Jones.

On Thursday, Martin was to be arrested on a warrant out of Somerset County charging him with attempted kidnapping, impersonating a police officer and sexual assault, Jones said, adding that bail had already been set at $250,000.

Martin’s codefendant in the case is Shamir Modestin, 43, of Brooklyn, Jones said, adding that Modestin was already in jail when charged in connection with the investigation that began in April.

Last month, Modestin and Martin were charged with the Aug. 16 abduction and rape of a prostitute in Jersey City. The men allegedly flashed their lights and pulled the 29-year-old woman over, police said. They forced her into a car and drove her to North Bergen, where they raped her, officials said. ..Source.. by Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal

3rd suspect tied to sex with boy kills self in Millstone

4-2-2011 New Jersey:

TRENTON — State police today confirmed that a third suspected pervert —_____ Jr., 53, of Millstone Township, Monmouth County — was arrested six weeks ago in a teenage boy sex investigation and that he was found dead today in his garage of an apparent suicide.

Meanwhile, fellow suspect ___ of Robbinsville, a $100,000-dollar-a-year state employee, is in the hospital.

A relative made the shocking discovery at 11:40 a.m., reported Sgt. Stephen Jones, State Police spokesman. He wouldn’t say whether ___ had died from carbon monoxide from a running vehicle, only that cause of death would be determined by an autopsy to be done soon.

The investigation involves the sexual corruption of a 15-year-old boy, and is continuing. ___ was charged with sexual assault (2nd degree) and endangering the welfare of a minor (3rd degree) after being accused of having sex with the boy last Oct. 1 at his house.

The invasion of “about 30” police cars to ____’s pin-neat residence on Shield Road, Millstone Township, yesterday startled his nearest neighbors, who both said he was “a very quiet guy,” a single man with no family, and no animals, who drove a truck that said, “Lucas Electric,” who went to work at 4:30 a.m.

Did he have any teenage boys around? Leonardo Ponzio was asked.

“I only saw people who would be working on his yards. He would have people come over and work on his yard, that’s it. I’m telling you, he was never home, he was not here. I used to think he should have sold the house because he was never home, he was never here. He was so NOT HERE, more than here.”

Two others have been arrested and charged in the same investigation, including ___, 23, of Toms River, and ____, 53, of Walden Circle, Robbinsville, Mercer County.

A Trentonian reporter found ___ as a patient in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was described in good condition by spokesman Peter Haigney.

A nursing supervisor, asked if ___ had injuries from a car accident, said no.

___ was asked what had happened on Wednesday, and said, “Please do not bother me in the hospital. Talk to my lawyer.” But he wouldn’t give his lawyer’s name.

___ lives on Walden Circle in Robbinsville, and has been identified as a 22-year veteran assistant director of financial services making $100,810 for the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services.

On Thursday, spokeswoman Marilyn Riley said he has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the charges.

____ was charged with engaging in prostitution with a minor, and sexual assault and endangering a minor, and released on $150,000 straight cash bail, according to state police. ..Source.. by Trentonian Staff

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Millstone man facing charges for sex with minor found dead

4-6-2011 New Jersey:

New Jersey State Police investigating death as apparent suicide

MILLSTONE — A township man facing charges for having sex with a minor was found dead at his Shield Road home, according to the New Jersey State Police.

A relative discovered the body of ___ Jr., 53, just before noon on April 1 in the garage of the residence where he allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old boy. The New Jersey State Police are investigating the death as an apparent suicide, according to State Police Lt. Stephen Jones.

The State Police arrested ___ on Feb. 26 and charged him with second-degree sexual assault and third-degree endangering the welfare of a minor as part of an ongoing investigation into a sex-forhire scheme, according to the State Police.

The Allentown High School graduate born in Trenton and raised in Cream Ridge was one of three men facing charges in connection with having sex with the same boy. Police accused ___ of having sex with the teenager at his residence on Oct. 1, 2010. After his arrest, ___ posted $250,000 bail and was released, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

___, 23, of Toms River, and ___, 55, of Robbinsville, are the two other men facing charges in connection with the ongoing investigation .

Police accused ___ of having sex with the boy at an undisclosed location in Upper Freehold on Oct. 1, 2010. He surrendered to police on Feb. 26, posted $250,000 bail and was released, according to the State Police.

Police charged ___ with engaging in prostitution with a minor and sexual assault and endangering a minor for an incident in his home with the same boy on Feb. 20. Police arrested ___ at his home on March 17. He posted $150,000 bail and was later released, according to the State Police.

Services for ___ were publicized as private and at the convenience of the family. His obituary stated that he enjoyed carpentry, the shore and most of all the time spent with his family and friends. Preceded in death by his mother, ___, ___ will be missed by his father, aunts, uncles and cousins, according to his obituary. ..Source.. by JENNIFER KOHLHEPP

Sex Abuse Suspect Leaps To Death From GWB

6-26-2010 New Jersey:

HACKENSACK, N.J. (WPIX) - A New Jersey man facing up to a 30-year prison sentence on charges that he sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl jumped to his death Thursday from the George Washington Bridge.

Stephen Gucciardo, 42, of Palisades Park, had taken the witness stand on Wednesday in his own trial in state Superior Court and was present when the alleged victim testified he sexually assaulted her four years ago.

Gucciardo, who was free on $125,000 bail had reportedly never missed a day of court since he was arrested. Officials said they grew suspicious when he failed to show up Thursday morning, but decided to resume the trial in his absence.

Gucciardo's attorney was later informed that his client had committed suicide. The judge then reportedly excused the jurors and told them the case had been resolved, but did not disclose how.

Port Authorities officials say Gucciardo jumped from the bridge around 8:50 a.m. and landed in a parking lot at the base of the bridge.

Gucciardo was arrested in 2006 and charged with sexually assaulting a child who was 6 at the time. According to prosecutors, Gucciardo was caught in bed with the girl during the time of his arrest.

The young victim claims Gucciardo touched her inappropriately on three separate occasions.

If convicted, Gucciardo would have faced up to 30 years behind bars. In addition, he would have been placed on lifelong parole and would have been forced to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law. ..Source.. by STEPHANIE BARISH

NJ- State report says DYFS could have done more to protect victims of 2006 murder-suicide

Posted in Related Deaths

10-24-2007 New Jersey:

The state Division of Youth and Family Services could have done more to protect Melanie and Scott McCarter, a report released by the New Jersey Office of the Child Advocate said Wednesday.

Wendy Bennett McCarter, 35, was shot and killed on the morning of May 25, 2006, by her husband, Scott McCarter, who also killed their two children, Scotty, 12, and Melanie, 6, before shooting himself in their Nabb Avenue home in Millville.


Scott McCarter had been barred from living with Wendy and his children because of a court order stemming from charges he allegedly molested two teenage girls from 2001 to 2004.

One of the girls was Wendy McCarter's daughter, Amanda Bennett, who has filed a lawsuit against DYFS over the deaths of her mother and two siblings. Bennett had moved out, and was not at the Nabb Avenue home at the time of the murder/suicide.

Drug counselor facing sex charges hangs himself in jail

10-13-2007 New Jersey:

A Barnegat drug counselor charged earlier this week with sexually assaulting two of his clients hung himself in his cell this morning in the Ocean County Jail, authorities said.

Gregory Donnell, 52, of Little Egg Harbor, was found at 2:37 a.m. crouched on the floor with a cloth around his neck tied to a bar on his window grate, according to a release from jail Warden Theodore Hutler. Corrections officers performed CPR on him until jail medical staff arrived. Donnell was rushed to Monmouth County Medical Center in Long Branch where he was pronounced dead at 3:07 a.m.

Hutler and Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said an autopsy performed this evening by county medical examiner Hydow Park listed the cause of death as asphyxia due to hanging and classified the death a suicide.

Donnell was charged Tuesday with two counts of sexual assault relating to his position as substance abuse counselor at Preferred Behavioral Health in Barnegat.

Authorities said that on at least two occasions Donnell substituted the urine samples of two of his clients for ones that would pass drug tests. In exchange, he received sexual favors from the women, authorities said.

Both alleged victims were in their 30s. One assault allegedly occurred Feb. 1, 2006, and the other was June 1. He was being held on $200,000 bail. ..more.. by MaryAnn Spoto