For Immediate Release: March 27, 2026 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 55-year-old PAUL D. MCERLEAN of Lodi, NJ, on charges of distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer. On Friday, March 27, 2026, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit executed a search warrant at the residence of PAUL D. MCERLEAN during the course of an Internet child sexual abuse material investigation. The investigation revealed that MCERLEAN used the Internet to view, download, possess, distribute, and share items depicting nude and/or sexually explicit pubescent and prepubescent children. As a result of the investigation, on Friday, March 27, 2026, PAUL D. MCERLEAN was arrested in Lodi, NJ and charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(b)5(a)(iii); and third-degree possession of…

For Immediate Release: March 27, 2026 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 18-year-old JOAQUIN MORRIS JR., of Hackensack, NJ and charges filed against a 16-year-old juvenile related to a stabbing that occurred in Hackensack, NJ. These charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Hackensack Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Antista. On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at approximately 3:00 p.m., the Hackensack Police Department responded to an injured person at the intersection of Banta Place and State Street. Upon arrival, responding officers discovered a 16-year-old stabbing victim and learned that the suspects involved in this incident fled the scene prior to their arrival. The 16-year-old juvenile was transported by ambulance to HMH Hackensack University Medical Center in stable condition. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit…

For Immediate Release: March 26, 2026 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 44-year-old SEUNGHEE NAM of Englewood, NJ on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Palisades Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief George Beck. On Sunday, March 22, 2026, the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding an alleged assault of a juvenile, that had occurred in the past, at a daycare center in Palisades Park. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Palisades Park Police Department revealed that SEUNGHEE NAM, a teacher at the center, assaulted and endangered the juvenile on Thursday, March 12, 2026, causing the child to sustain significant…

For Immediate Release: March 23, 2026 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 36-year-old JERMIN FORDYCE of Hackensack, NJ on charges of home invasion burglary, attempted aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated assault. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Hackensack Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Antista. On Saturday, March 21, 2026, at approximately 3:40 a.m., the Hackensack Police Department responded to a private residence for a home invasion burglary. Upon arrival, responding officers located JERMIN FORDYCE, who had been subdued by residents of the home and held for police after he was discovered in the bedroom of one of the residents. FORDYCE, who was not related to anyone in the dwelling, was taken into custody and transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the…

For Immediate Release: March 20, 2026 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 43-year-old DESZON J. MOORE of Bronx, NY on charges of aggravated arson, arson, criminal mischief, and hindering his own apprehension. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Fort Lee Police Department, under the direction of Chief Matthew J. Hintze. On March 18, 2026, at approximately 3:46 a.m., the Fort Lee Police Department and the Fort Lee Fire Department responded to a vehicle fire in a parking lot on Bergen Boulevard. Upon arrival, first responders discovered a fully engulfed vehicle that was ultimately extinguished by firefighters. Following the preliminary investigation and fire suppression efforts, the Fort Lee Police Department notified the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad that the fire appeared to be suspicious. Detectives from the Arson Squad,…

For Immediate Release: March 20, 2026 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of 28-year-old RAFAELA R. ALMEIDA of Newark, NJ; 25-year-old RYOMA M. JOHNS of Newark, NJ; 31-year-old RUAN G. RODRIGUES-MONTEIRO formerly of Bloomfield, NJ; and charges filed against 30-year-old IGOR GOMES ESPINDOLA DASILVA, formerly of Newark, NJ. These arrests and charges are the result of a 16-month investigation into a shooting that occurred in Rochelle Park in November 2024. The investigation was conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Rochelle Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief Dean Pinto. On Friday, November 22, 2024, at approximately 8:13 p.m., the Rochelle Park Police Department responded to shots fired in the area of Marion Avenue in Rochelle Park, NJ. While canvassing the neighborhood, law enforcement discovered ballistic evidence, as well as a nearby vehicle with multiple bullet holes in…

For Immediate Release: March 16, 2026 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 60-year-old VICTOR A. SOTO of Fairview, NJ for attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon. This arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Fairview Police Department, under the direction of Chief Vincent Bellucci. On Saturday, March 14, 2026, at approximately 1:23 a.m., the Fairview Police Department responded to a stabbing incident on Grant Street. Upon arrival, responding officers located a 60-year-old male with stab wounds to his face, hands, and legs. The victim was immediately transported to HMH Palisades Medical Center and hospitalized with serious injuries. A suspect who fled the scene was quickly located and taken into custody by Fairview Police. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s…

For Immediate Release: March 16, 2026 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 36-year-old AHMED A. RADY of Belleville, NJ on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated criminal sexual contact. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the North Arlington Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Horton. On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the New Jersey Division of Child Protection & Permanency contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding the sexual abuse of a juvenile. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the North Arlington Police Department revealed that AHMED A. RADY engaged in sexual activity with a juvenile in the Borough of North Arlington, NJ. As a result of the investigation, on Thursday, March 12, 2026, AHMED A. RADY was arrested…

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2026 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of 59-year-old ELDER G. MIMBELA-PORTILLA of Fairview, NJ on charges of aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jeff Angermeyer, and the Fairview Police Department, under the direction of Chief Vincent Belucci. On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the Fairview Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit regarding alleged sexual assaults of a juvenile that had occurred in the past. An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fairview Police Department revealed that ELDER G. MIMBELA-PORTILLA assaulted and endangered a juvenile in Fairview, NJ on more than one occasion, between the dates of November 1, 2017 and November 21, 2021. As a result of the investigation,…

For Immediate Release: March 3, 2026 Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the sentencing term handed down in Bergen County Superior Court against 41-year-old JULIO C. GUERRERO-BRITO of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ in connection with a 2024 fatal motor vehicle accident. That crash resulted in the death of 37-year-old Richard M. Bahamonte of Hillside, NJ. On Saturday, February 24, 2024, at approximately 3:08 a.m., the New Jersey State Police responded to a single-car accident that occurred on Interstate 80 Eastbound in Teaneck, NJ. First responders arrived on scene and discovered the vehicle, a 2022 Honda Accord, heavily damaged and perpendicular across two lanes of traffic. The driver of the vehicle, who was found asleep in the driver’s seat, was identified as JULIO C. GUERRERO-BRITO. The passenger, later identified as Richard M. Bahamonte, was unconscious and had no pulse. New Jersey State Troopers began CPR and attempted life-saving measures; however, Mr. Bahamonte…