Medford Twp.’s Historical Markers Taken in First-ever Incident, But Has Since Been Recovered with Public Works Planning to Re-erect

Facebook posting of the Medford Township Historical Society, was “removed” on Jan. 9.

“After 25 years of informing the public about Medford’s history, this is the first loss of one of the famous blue markers,” the historical society wrote in a statement.

The society asked that “if you see this sign anywhere, please notify Medford Police, or return it to its original location.”

Lieutenant James D’Averso, a spokesman for Medford Police, and also the department’s Criminal Investigations Bureau commander, said the sign was “reported missing/stolen on Jan. 22, 2023,” with a value of $325 provided to police.

D’Averso contacted this newspaper again on Feb. 6 to report that on Feb. 2 the sign was “recovered” by the township’s Neighborhood Services Department (just renamed last month as the municipality’s Public Works Department) and will be “re-erected.”

“Since it was removed from the post and located at another different location, I would consider that a theft,” he added, not detailing whether there are any known suspects as of yet.

Man Sentenced for Leaving Pemberton Twp. Fatal Accident Scene

PEMBERTON—A 27-year-old Camden man was sentenced in late January to five years in state prison for leaving the scene of a fatal accident in Pemberton Township last year after the sport utility vehicle he was driving collided with an oncoming car, killing the other motorist.

Christopher Robles pled guilty last month to seconddegree leaving the scene of a fatal accident in exchange for the five-year prison term, according to a press release from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, which noted that it reached a plea agreement with Robles.

An investigation, it was noted in the press release, began just after midnight on Aug. 17, 2022, when officers from the Pemberton Township Police Department were dispatched to North Pemberton Road for a report of a collision involving two vehicles.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that one of the drivers, Carmen Gonzalez, 68, of Sayreville, had been killed by the impact.

The driver of the other vehicle could not be initially located.

The subsequent investigation identified Robles as the driver who had fled the scene. He has been in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly since being arrested in September, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The investigation determined that the collision occurred after Gonzalez’s vehicle crossed the center line and struck the vehicle being driven by Robles.

Suspect Charged in Overnight Evesham Vehicle Burglaries, Thefts

By D ouglas D. M elegari

Staff Writer

MEDFORD—For the first time ever, someone reportedly took one of Medford Township’s historical markers.

However, the sign that went missing, one for Hoot Owl Farm near on Christopher Mill Road, has since been returned, a Medford Township Police Department spokesman confirmed early this week.

The marker, according to a Jan. 31

The marker notes that brick home for the farm was built in 1772, and that the property gained notoriety in the Prohibition Era when bootleggers would ship alcohol along the creek.

It also makes mention of a “rumor” that former president George Washington, also a famed military officer and Founding Father, stayed at the parcel at one time “on his journeys in the area.”

“Marker has been found along the side of a road in Medford,” the society wrote in a follow-up update. “It will be reinstalled. Thanks for the concern of so many people.”

EVESHAM—Police in Evesham Township have made an arrest in multiple overnight vehicle burglaries and thefts that reportedly occurred on Raymond Avenue and Raymond Court in December of last year.

Markel Davis, 25, of Camden, was determined to be a suspect in the multiple overnight vehicle burglaries and thefts that impacted multiple residences, according to a Feb. 8 press release from the Evesham Township Police Department.

“Evidence collected at the scene, by our Patrol Bureau, and extensive investigative work conducted by our Investigative Bureau identified a suspect, Markel Davis,” police reported.

Davis was charged with five counts of third-degree burglary, four counts of thirddegree theft, third-degree theft of a motor vehicle and fourth-degree tampering with evidence.

According to Evesham Police, Davis was already incarcerated for an unrelated crime when he was charged Jan. 7 of this year on a warrant for the crimes committed in Evesham, with police adding that the investigation is still “ongoing.”

Pemberton Twp. Cop Recovering from Late January Stabbing That Occurred on Juliustown Road; Very Few Details Released

PEMBERTON—A Pemberton Township police officer is recovering from a stabbing that occurred late last month on Juliustown Road in Pemberton Township, the Pine Barrens Tribune has confirmed.

However, so far, very few details about what transpired are being released by the New Jersey State Police, which have apparently taken the lead in an investigation, with Pemberton Township Police Department Chief Jay Watters referring this newspaper to the state police for comment.

It wasn’t immediately clear why the state police have taken a lead in the investigation.

Philip Curry, a state police spokesman, would only say that the stabbing happened on the evening of Jan. 26, and that the officer was “stabbed by a suspect on Juliustown Road in Pemberton.”

“The suspect was taken into custody at the

Meeting

(Continued from Page 2) scene,” Curry reported.

The officer was transported to an “area hospital” where he was last reported to be in stable condition.

“The State Police Major Crimes Unit is investigating,” Curry said. “There are no additional details available at this time.”

The officer’s identity and length of service to the department was not released, nor was any detail provided about the number of stab wounds the officer may have suffered.

Additionally, the exact location of the stabbing was not provided to this newspaper. Police also declined to release the apprehended suspect’s identity.

“The incident is still under investigation and we are not releasing any additional details at this time,” replied Curry when asked to provide this public information.

Medford Twp. Woman Pleads Guilty to Decades-Old Sex Assault

MEDFORD—A 61-year-old Medford Township woman pled guilty in Superior Court to sexually assaulting a young boy over several years beginning in the early 1980s, according to a press release from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office announcing the investigation that culminated into a guilty plea.

Katherine Clements on Jan. 20 entered the guilty plea to second-degree sexual assault, which carries an incarceration period of up to 10 years.

Judge Mark P. Tarantino scheduled Clements’ sentencing for May 5.

Under a plea agreement with the prosecutor’s office, the judge will determine the length of her prison term, the press release noted. The investigation, the press release continued, began in 2018 after the victim contacted the Medford Township Police Department to report the assaults.

The investigation confirmed the victim’s allegation that the assaults occurred over a nineyear period.

Additional details are being withheld to protect the identity of the victim, the prosecutor’s office said.

Clements former township committeeman, from a pool that also included Stephen Lee IV and Joseph Barton, also former committeemen. Both Barton and Lee were recently vocal in their displeasure with the direction of the current township committee with respect to opportunities for public comment and plans for a possible new municipal building and Public Works facility. But Hartman gave no reason for his selection, and there was no committee discussion about the choice. McNaughton was unanimously selected to fill the vacancy.

The lead investigator was Medford Township Detective Patrick Robey.

“Can we swear him in, taking another action?” asked Kim Brown of Burns, with the township solicitor replying, “Yes,” and adding that the “oath” is just part of nomination action that had been taken, further contending it was permitted through the affirmation to proceed with the special meeting.

After Kim Brown pointed out she was asking “out of an abundance of caution,” Burns said he would ask the governing body “out of an abundance of caution” to “reconsider and ratify” its decision at the next “regularly scheduled” township committee meeting.

“I want to thank everybody and hope that I can be a positive part of this committee and do my best,” declared McNaughton just before taking the oath of office. “The only thing that made this a difficult decision is I had to give up the Land Use Board. Except for two years, I have served on it for 30 years.”

But the following day, and as of this newspaper’s Feb. 8 deadline time, McNaughton’s name had not yet been posted as a township committeeman on the township’s website.

And, despite Burns’ public statements, including that the nomination could be simply repeated during the governing body’s next “regular” session, the day following the Feb. 2 special meeting, this newspaper received “48 hours’ notice” of a “special meeting” scheduled for Feb. 9 from Township Administrator and Clerk Maryalice Brown stating that its agenda would include, in part, “taking corrective or remedial action including acting de novo regarding the appointment of township committeeperson.”

Messages left with both Maryalice Brown and Burns in an attempt to inquire about the circumstances surrounding the latest notice were not returned as of this newspaper’s deadline time.

But while the Brooks told this newspaper on Feb. 7 that they did not pursue any legal action against the township (at least as of yet), Fran Brooks noted she had turned in an OPRA request on Feb. 4 seeking the notice for the Feb. 2 session that had been provided to the township’s designated legal newspapers.

The Feb. 2 session was also apparently wrought with access issues that could also potentially create challenges if corrective action is not taken.

Fran Brooks, at the start of the session, was heard remarking, “How do we get on? We can’t get on.” Stuart Brooks, upon the Brooks finally being able to access the remote session by telephone, then advised the governing body they could not access the meeting through a provided video link.

Fran Brooks – whose audio was apparently live – then pointed out that for telephone users, there is no obvious mechanism to “raise your hand” if one wished to make public comments should their audio be muted