Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., stated the following update;

"Defendant Jose Feliciano who was charged with the homicide death of 61 year old Roman Catholic Pastor, Father Edward Hinds, in Chatham Borough was returned to the Morris County Correctional facility at 7:00 p.m. this evening where he is being held on one million dollars bail which was set by Morris County Assignment Judge B. Theodore Bozonelis."

The homicide investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at (973) 285-6200.

Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions and relevant state law.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., Chief of Investigations William Schievella, and Denville Township Police Chief Christopher Wagner announce the investigation into a death which occurred on December 27, 2009 in Denville Township.

On Sunday, December 27, 2009 at approximately 2:47 p.m., the Denville Township Police Department received a 9-1-1 call reporting two men who were submerged in the water of Indian Lake. One man, a 37 year old Morris Township resident who was temporarily staying with the second male subject at his Denville Township residence, was rescued from the water fairly quickly by two West Shore Road residents who observed the victim submerged under the ice.

The two residents went onto the ice with a sledge hammer and broke up the ice to aid in the rescue of the victim. As this was in progress, they were joined by four Denville Township police officers; Officer Dennis Subrizi, Officer Scott Tobin, Officer Kris Sandman, and Officer Bruce McCarter. All four officers, with the assistance of the two West Shore Road residents, pulled the victim onto the West Shore Road property at which point the Denville Township police officer's performed lifesaving rescue efforts, known as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and were successful in reviving the victim who was then transported to an area hospital where he remains in stable condition.

The second victim, who was later determined to be Steve Savare, remained submerged in the water for a considerable period of time. At approximately 3:30 p.m. dive team members removed Mr. Savare's lifeless body from the lake. The divers that located Mr. Savare were: Denville Fire Department Dive Team, Member Donroy Gounaud; Boonton Fire Department Savalge and Rescue Dive Team Member Eric Joinson. Chief Christopher Wagner stated "These two dive team members did a commendable job under difficult circumstances." Mr. Savare was transported to Morristown Memorial Hospital where doctors and medical staff worked on him for a considerable period of time and tragically, Mr. Savare was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. by Dr. Allegra. Mr. Savare's family members were by his side at the hospital.

The investigation which was conducted by the Denville Township Police Department, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crime Unit and the Morris County Sheriff's Unit Criminal Investigation Section, determined that Mr. Savare and his 37 year old friend who was currently staying with Mr. Savare at his West Shore Road residence, had walked across the street to the residence of the family who ultimately participated in the rescue efforts and asked permission to use the lakefront property to enter Indian Lake to swim. After gaining permission, both individuals left and returned approximately 10 minutes later wearing shorts and t-shirts. Both men frequently had personal competitions.

According to the investigation, both men had engaged in a competition and had agreed to swim under the ice and come out into the open water and then return under the ice to shore. As the resident homeowner watched both men, it was determined that both Mr. Savare and his friend veered off in different directions at which point the resident became concerned and yelled to another family member to call 9-1-1 for help.

At that point, it was observed that Mr. Savare became trapped under the ice and was observed banging his head on the ice. Mr. Savare was approximately 30 yards from the shore when the resident lost sight of him. The resident then observed the second victim at approximately 6 feet from the shore under approximately 3 to 5 inches of ice, at which point he yelled for his brother who was inside the residence to get tools from the garage to help him.

The brothers went onto the ice, broke a hole through the ice in an effort to rescue the victim with the assistance of the Denville Township officers who had responded. When the victim was pulled from the frigid waters, he was unresponsive. The police officer’s performed CPR until the victim began to breathe on his own. The victim was then transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The investigation revealed that Mr. Savare was under the water for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. The cause and manner of death for Mr. Savare is pending an autopsy which will be conducted by the Morris County Medical Examiner's Office.

Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq. and Chief Christopher Wagner jointly stated; "This is a very tragic situation and we extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Steve Savare. The homeowner and his family, and the members of the Denville Township Police Department are to be commended for their heroic efforts. Water and ice rescues are inherently difficult and dangerous and we are proud of the quick thinking of both the residents and police officers who were successful in performing lifesaving measures that ultimately led to the survival of one of the victims."

Morris County Prosecutor Robert A. Bianchi, Esq., Chief of Investigations William Schievella, and Florham Park Borough Police Chief Patrick P. Montuore announce the arrest of an employee of St. Anne's Villa (assisted living facility) in Florham Park, New Jersey on charges of Sexual Assault, (2nd degree); and Endangering the Welfare of a Child (3rd degree).

On December 23, 2009 Detective Sergeant Joseph Orlando of the Florham Park Police Department and Detective Anne-Marie Truppo, Detective Edward Mitreuter, Detective Keyla Dent of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit along with Detective Glen Johnstone of Florham Park Police Department conducted an investigation involving an allegation of a sexual assault which allegedly occurred at the St. Anne's Villa located in Florham Park on December 23, 2009.

The investigation conducted by the Florham Park Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes Unit resulted in the arrest of Jose B. Chavez, date of birth 12/27/78, at his place of employment on December 23, 2009.

It is alleged that Jose B. Chavez, while acting in his capacity as a maintenance worker for the St. Anne's Villa, allegedly committed the sexual assault of the 9 year old female (victim) while she was in the "activity room" watching a DVD.

The victim was off from school and went with a relative for the day to the relative's workplace at St. Anne's Villa. Jose B. Chavez has been employed at St. Anne's Villa for approximately one month in the capacity of a maintenance worker.

Anyone who may have information is asked to contact the Florham Park Borough Police Department at 973-377-2200, Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-6200 or the Morris County Sheriff's Office Crime Stopper Program at 973-COPCALL or 973-267-2255.

Bail was set by Morris County Assignment Judge B. T. Bozonelis in the amount of $200,000, no 10% bail, no contact with the victim or her family and no contact with children under the age of 16 years old. Mr. Chavez was lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail.

Despite these pending charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt following a jury trial at which the defendant has all of his rights guaranteed by the U.S. and New Jersey Constitutions and relevant state law.