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Arrested: Russell Decker, age 29, of Sussex Borough, NJ. < Back Fugitive jumps out window to evade arrest, captured anyway Arrested: Russell Decker, age 29, of Sussex Borough, NJ. Previous Next On Wednesday, December 5, 2012, sheriff’s detectives Matt Caine and William Lunger located Russell Decker at his residence in Sussex Borough. Upon hearing detectives Caine and Lunger identify themselves, and correctly surmising there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest, Decker jumped out of a second floor window and ran away from the residence to escape capture. Detectives Caine and Lunger, along with multiple other sheriff’s officers, several New Jersey State Police troopers, and a sheriff’s K-9 unit were deployed to the area but were unable to locate Decker. An additional warrant was subsequently issued for Russell Decker charging him with resisting arrest by flight and obstruction of the administration of law. Five days later, on Monday, December 10, 2012, detectives Caine and Lunger again located Russell Decker at his residence in Sussex Borough. Decker again attempted to evade capture, this time by hiding underneath his bed. Decker was located under the bed and taken into custody. Further investigation revealed a small quantity of marijuana on his person. Decker was issued summonses for resisting arrest and possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and given a future court date to appear in Wantage Municipal Court. Decker was transported to the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility where he remains lodged in lieu of $10,000 bail with no 10% option.

Officers took part in the 2012 Police Unity Tour and raised funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. < Back Corrections officers ride to Washington Officers took part in the 2012 Police Unity Tour and raised funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Previous Next Homer’s epic poem, “The Odyssey,” recounts an ancient Greek soldier’s decade-long voyage home after the Trojan War. The word odyssey, itself, has since become synonymous with a long and arduous journey. In mid-May, members of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections hopped on their bicycles, joining approximately 600 others, and began an odyssey of their own—pedaling from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. as part of the Police Unity Tour. Their 300-mile ride took four days and ended with a candlelight vigil at the memorial which is etched with the names of 18,983 officers killed in the line of duty. The Police Unity Tour was organized by Florham Park Police Officer Pat Montuore in May, 1997 to raise public awareness of police officers who have died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices. A total of 18 police officers from throughout New Jersey rode that first year and raised approximately $18,000. In comparison, this year, over 1,600 members from throughout the United States made the trip, raising $1.65 million for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Inspired by the tour’s motto, “We ride for those who died,” many riders traveled from countries such as Australia, Israel, Great Britain, Italy, India and Canada to join the tour. Montuore, who is now chief of the Florham Park Police Department, still accompanies the tour each year. Tour participants from the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Corrections raised approximately $7,500 and included the following people: Undersheriff Homer Wanamaker, who was accompanied by his daughter, Blaire, a detective with the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office Sussex County Sheriff’s Corrections Sergeant John Bannon, who was accompanied by his brother, Jim, a retired United States Coast Guard member Sussex County Sheriff’s Corrections Officer Jason Kimble Sussex County Sheriff’s Corrections Corporal Anthony Masucci Since 1997, the Police Unity Tour has raised almost $12 million dollars for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum. Riders who took part in the Police Unity Tour, from left to right: Homer Wanamaker, John Bannon, Blaire Wanamaker, Anthony Masucci, Jason Kimble and Jim Bannon.

Wantage and Sussex Borough enter into an agreement with the Sussex County Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Communications Services. < Back Two more towns sign on for dispatching services Wantage and Sussex Borough enter into an agreement with the Sussex County Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Communications Services. Previous Next Sheriff Michael Strada is pleased to announce that Wantage Township and Sussex Borough have entered into a five-year shared service agreement for dispatching services at the Sussex County Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Communications Center. After several months of technical and logistical planning and preparation, both municipalities seamlessly transitioned to the county center. Wantage and Sussex join the eleven other municipalities currently utilizing the call taking and dispatching services of the largest 9-1-1 communications center in the county. Representatives from the state Office of Emergency Telecommunications, several telecommunications providers and municipal and county officials were present during the cutover to insure a successful implementation. The county 9-1-1 center service area encompasses 65% of the county’s geographical area. The communications center will be responsible for handling all 9-1-1 calls for their municipalities. Sheriff Strada stated, “I am glad to see other municipalities join our communications center as we offer the latest technology and dispatching services. The emergency service organizations that are currently utilizing our center realize the benefits of a central communications center.” Pictured left to right: Chief Telecommunicator Dave Korver, Director of Communications Mark Rozek, Borough of Sussex OEM Coordinator Floyd Southard, Township of Wantage Mayor Ron Bassani, Township of Wantage Administrator Michael Restel, Township of Wantage OEM/911 Coordinator Joe Konopinski, New Jersey Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services Doug Weidanz and Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada

Arrested: Raymond Babcock, age 41, of Lafayette, NJ. < Back Sheriff's detectives apprehend fugitive in Lafayette Arrested: Raymond Babcock, age 41, of Lafayette, NJ. Previous Next On Friday, January 11, 2013, sheriff’s detectives Matt Caine and William Lunger were in Lafayette Township attempting to locate Raymond Babcock who was the subject of four separate arrest warrants issued by the Sussex County Superior Court. The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office had received multiple tips from anonymous sources directly to the office as well as through the Sussex County Crime Stoppers tip line regarding Babcock’s whereabouts. Acting on that information, detectives Caine and Lunger arrived at the residence of a friend of Babcock’s and asked for permission to search the premises. The homeowner consented to allow Detective Lunger to search the residence. While searching a closet in the upstairs bathroom of the house, Detective Lunger discovered Babcock hiding in a crawl space in the rear of the closet. Detective Lunger immediately placed Babcock under arrest and transported him to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Further investigation revealed the existence of an additional arrest warrant for Babcock issued by the Newton Municipal Court. Babcock was additionally charged with resisting arrest by flight. He was issued a summons to appear in Frankford Municipal Court at a future date. Raymond Babcock is currently lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility without bail.

Arrested: Brian Rush, age 36, of Montague Township, NJ. < Back Warrant arrest occurs at Montague residence Arrested: Brian Rush, age 36, of Montague Township, NJ. Previous Next On June 24, 2011, Sheriff’s Officer Scott Haggerty and Sgt. John Gray were assigned to community policing within the Montague Township area. Sheriff’s Officer Haggerty was aware of a Sussex County Superior Court warrant for the arrest of Brian Rush for contempt and was attempting to locate him. Upon receiving information indicating Rush was staying at his parent’s residence, Sheriff’s Officer Haggerty and Sgt. Gray visited the home. After a brief investigation, Rush was located and taken into custody without incident. Rush was lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Foreclosure Listings Announcement Effective June 3, 2026 Sussex County foreclosure sales will be held on the first Wednesday of each month at 2:00 p.m. in the Historic Sussex County Courthouse, 3 High Street, Newton NJ. PLEASE NOTE In compliance with the August 28, 2025 order in MER-C-94-24, the right of refusal for the Community Wealth Preservation Program will be extended only to defendants, next-of-kin, or tenants. While every effort is made to ensure that these listings are accurate and timely, the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office does not warrant or guarantee the reliability of same. To confirm a sale date, please contact the Foreclosure Unit at 973.579.0850. You must have the defendant’s name for inquiries. SALES CAN AND DO CHANGE AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE. Foreclosure Archives Download File Filter List By: Filter List Click on the Case Number below to view a copy of the published advertisement ** Approx Judgement Excludes Judgement Interest & Sheriff's Fees Case Number / Advertisement Docket Number Scheduled Sale Date Plaintiff Defendant Plaintiff Attorney Plaintiff Attorney Telephone Approx Judgement ** Address City Complete Status Buyer Price Upset 26000364 F-000057-26 12/02/2026 HSBC Bank USA, National Association Rickey Conklin & Marjorie Conklin Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC (973) 575-0707 $217,902.66 32 Northwestern Trail Hopatcong Open $242,000.00 26000362 F-002978-26 12/02/2026 Planet Home Lending, LLC Caitlin A. flood & Ross I Flood Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC (973) 575-0707 $251,420.36 8 Sussex Road Sussex Open $276,000.00 26000359 F-012071-25 12/02/2026 Citizens Bank, N.A. Matthew Murphy McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC (856) 858-7080 $282,500.86 10 Atno Avenue Hopatcong Open $316,000.00 26000350 F-002689-26 12/02/2026 M & T Bank Valerie Palumbo KML Law Group, PC (215) 627-1322 $188,133.96 27 Walnut street Sussex Open $205,822.38 26000210 F-009584-25 12/02/2026 Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB Mark W. Griggs Romano Garubo & Argentieri (856) 384-1515 $178,080.71 9 Richards Street Ogdensburg Open $194,000.00 26000189 F-005367-25 12/02/2026 NEWREZ, LLC Michelle Elisabeth Jespersen, et al. Pincus Law Group, PLLC (516) 699-8902 $231,242.98 8 Wilson Avenue Vernon Open $263,263.06 26000107 F-009689-25 12/02/2026 JRCG LLC 521 Maple CR LLC, ET AL. Patrick O. Lacsina Law Offices (973) 485-3584 $309,042.17 5-21 Maple Crescent Vernon Open $343,000.00 26000049 F-000932-25 12/02/2026 Freedom Mortgage Corp. Jennifer Bucci Smith Gross Polowy, LLC (716) 204-1700 $555,980.05 1782 Route 565 Sussex Open $592,423.94 26000010 F-000789-25 12/02/2026 U.S. Bank Trust National Association Michael L. Perry, ET AL. Friedman Vartolo, LLP (212) 471-5100 $465,067.49 6 King Alex Court Sparta Open $542,721.60 23000016 F-008720-22 12/02/2026 Pennymac Loan Services, LLC Kevin E. Garrett Powers Kirn, LLC (856) 802-1000 $344,784.29 40 Zinnia Drive Vernon Open $381,586.44

Get rid of unused/outdated prescription drugs on Saturday, November 12, 2011. < Back Sussex County Prescription Drug Disposal Day Get rid of unused/outdated prescription drugs on Saturday, November 12, 2011. Previous Next Sheriff Michael F. Strada has announced that the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in the Sussex County Prescription Drug Disposal Day in cooperation with the Center for Prevention & Counseling and the Hopatcong Police Department. Unused or outdated prescription drugs will be collected by sheriff’s officers posted at the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCMUA) on Saturday, November 12, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The SCMUA is located at 34 South, Route 94 in Lafayette Township. Residents are encouraged to bring all unused or expired over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs for safe disposal such as: drugs that did not work for you, a family member, or pet drugs that are no longer used or from deceased family members unknown tablets or capsules The Hopatcong Police Department is also participating in the program this Saturday and will have a police officer posted at the Medicine Shoppe located at 50 Hopatchung Road in Hopatcong between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. For more information, please contact the Center for Prevention & Counseling at 973.383.4787.

Civil Process About Sheriff’s Sales The Sussex County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the preparation and auctioning of real property. A foreclosure is a sheriff’s sale of real property. Foreclosure Listings While every effort is made to ensure that these foreclosure listings are accurate and timely, the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office does not warrant or guarantee the reliability of same. Process Services Our Civil Process Unit deploys sheriff’s officers throughout the county to handle many types of civil process.

Sheriff’s officer arrests couple at Vernon home < Back Sheriff’s officer arrests couple at Vernon home Sheriff’s officer arrests couple at Vernon home Previous Next On Thursday, June 20, 2013, while assigned to civil process in the Vernon Township area, Sheriff’s Officer John Swords encountered Robbie Carrier and Derek Hall at Carrier’s residence. While speaking with Carrier at her front door, Officer Swords detected an obvious odor of marijuana. He advised Carrier that he suspected she was in possession of a controlled dangerous substance and asked for her consent to search the residence. Carrier allowed Officer Swords inside and consented to a search. Further investigation revealed Hall and Carrier to be in possession of over 282 grams of marijuana, approximately 1,500 pills of phenobarbital and $2,700 in United States currency. Carrier and Hall were both arrested and transported to the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office for processing. Each was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) in an amount in excess of 50 grams, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (prescription legend drugs), and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were issued summonses for the violations and given future court dates to appear in Vernon Township Municipal Court. Sheriff’s Sergeant John Gray, Sheriff’s Corporal Dan Storey and detectives from the Vernon Township Police Department assisted in the arrests.

Arrested: Caitlyn McKenzie, age 25, of Hamburg, NJ. < Back Subject of active warrant arrested at county office Arrested: Caitlyn McKenzie, age 25, of Hamburg, NJ. Previous Next On Thursday, June 2, 2011, while assigned to the Division of Social Services offices in Newton, Sheriff’s Officer Matt Maines observed Caitlyn McKenzie. Knowing her to be the subject of an active outstanding Superior Court warrant, sheriff’s officers Maines and Matt Caine approached her and placed her under arrest. McKenzie was taken into custody, given a date to appear in Superior Court and released on her own recognizance. Sheriff’s Officer Edmund Galinski assisted in the arrest.

Arrested: Stephen Honthy, age 39, formerly of Hopatcong and Dawn Stewart, age 49, of Fredon Twp., NJ. < Back Fredon Township woman arrested after harboring fugitive Arrested: Stephen Honthy, age 39, formerly of Hopatcong and Dawn Stewart, age 49, of Fredon Twp., NJ. Previous Next On July 6, 2011, sheriff’s detectives Michael Yanko and Richard Otte were attempting to locate and arrest Stephen Honthy, who was the subject of an outstanding Sussex County Superior Court warrant for contempt. Detectives Yanko and Otte had received information that Honthy was staying at the residence of Ms. Dawn Stewart in Fredon Township. On an earlier occasion, detectives Yanko and Otte had approached Honthy at that location and he had fled from them. At that time, Ms. Stewart had denied Honthy was staying with her. On the afternoon of July 6, detectives Yanko and Otte returned to the Stewart residence and discovered Honthy there. He was immediately taken into custody. Further investigation revealed that Honthy had been residing at the Stewart home for some time. Subsequently, Dawn Stewart was taken into custody for harboring Honthy at her residence. Stewart was charged with obstructing the administration of law and hindering the apprehension of another. She received summonses for both charges and was released pending an appearance in municipal court. Honthy was charged with resisting arrest by flight. He is currently lodged in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility with no bail.

David Korver and Andrea Wehrenberg were recently promoted. < Back Two promoted at Sussex County 911 Communication Center David Korver and Andrea Wehrenberg were recently promoted. Previous Next Sheriff Michael Strada announced the recent promotions of two public safety telecommunicators at the Sussex County 911 Communication Center. David Korver of Hampton Township was promoted to chief public safety telecommunicator. David, who has eight years of experience after stints as a dispatcher with Hopatcong Borough and Morris County Communications, started working as a public safety telecommunicator for Sussex County in 2011. In 2013 he was promoted to supervisory public safety telecommunicator. Andrea Wehrenberg , also of Hampton Township, was promoted to supervising public safety telecommunicator. Andrea has twenty-two years of experience and previously worked for the Town of Newton as a dispatcher. Both David and Andrea have been instrumental in the opening of the 911 Communication Center. Their experience, dedication and commitment to the sheriff’s organization is clearly evident. They are both well deserving of their promotions. Sheriff Strada stated “We often forget that our telecommunicators are the first ones to receive emergency calls and often times save lives over the phone by giving medical direction to those in need. They all do a terrific job, often times handling extremely stressful emergency calls.” Pictured from left to right: Sheriff Michael F. Strada, David Korver and Andrea Wehrenberg