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Sam Barron

Community Editor

sbarron@dailyvoice.com

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An (almost) lifelong Westchester resident, Sam has reported on all facets of Westchester since he graduated from Ryerson University with a degree in print journalism, including stints at North County News and The Examiner. A film columnist for WAG Magazine, Sam's moviegoing expertise has been profiled in the New York Times and he was a featured guest on VH1's Big Morning Buzz Live.

Sam was formerly a community editor at Daily Voice.

Sam Barron's Contributions

Police & Fire
Plainfield Man Gets 20+ For Fatal Shooting: Prosecutor Plainfield Man Gets 20+ For Fatal Shooting: Prosecutor
Plainfield Man Gets 20+ For Fatal Shooting: Prosecutor A 34-year-old Plainfield man was sentenced to 23 years in state prison on Thursday, May 16, for fatally shooting a man in 2022, authorities said. At 4 p.m. on March 11, Plainfield police responded to Johnston Avenue and East 2nd Street and found Eric Williams, a 50-year-old Plainfield resident hit with multiple gunshot wounds, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel and Plainfield Police Director James Abney said. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. Haneef Welch was sentenced after pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter, autho…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Plainfield Man Gets 40 Years For Strangling Girlfriend: Prosecutor Plainfield Man Gets 40 Years For Strangling Girlfriend: Prosecutor
Plainfield Man Gets 40 Years For Strangling Girlfriend: Prosecutor A 24-year-old Plainfield man was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Wednesday, May 15, for strangling his 19-year-old girlfriend to death in 2020, authorities said. On July 6, 2020, Plainfield police conducted a welfare check and found the body of 19-year-old Brenda Montoya-Cruz, Union County Prosecutor William Daniel and Plainfield Police Director James T. Abney said.  Bryan Gonzales-Martinez was convicted of first-degree murder last June, authorities said. He must serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, authorities said. 

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by Sam Barron
News
Union County Lottery Player Wins $1K/Week For Life Union County Lottery Player Wins $1K/Week For Life
Union County Lottery Player Wins $1K/Week For Life A lottery player in Union County is going to be reaping the benefits of his prize for the rest of his life. A CASH4LIFE ticket matched the five white balls in the Thursday, May 16 drawing, winning $1,000 a week for life. The ticket was sold at Quick Stop Convenience in Plainfield. 

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by Sam Barron
News
WINNER! Somerset County Lotto Player Wins Big $$$ WINNER! Somerset County Lotto Player Wins Big $$$
Winner! Somerset County Lotto Player Wins Big $$$ It was a terrific Thursday for a lottery player in Somerset County. Their ticket matched all five numbers in the Jersey Cash 5 jackpot drawing on Thursday, May 16, splitting the $100,000 jackpot. The winning numbers were: 05, 13, 14, 22 and 33 and the XTRA number was: 04.  The ticket was sold at Krauszer's in Hillsborough. 

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Woman Robbed Salvation Army, Assaulted Employee: Newark PD Woman Robbed Salvation Army, Assaulted Employee: Newark PD
Woman Robbed Salvation Army, Assaulted Employee: Newark PD A woman robbed a Salvation Army in Newark, assaulting an employee on Wednesday, May 15, authorities said. At 4 p.m., police responded to the Salvation Army Thrift Shop and Donation Center at 74 Pennington St. in Newark on a report of a robbery, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said.  The woman attempted to leave the store with $100 in merchandise without paying for it, so employees locked the door to prevent her from leaving, Fragé said. The woman shoved an employee to the floor, unlocked the door and fled westbound on Pennington St., Fragé said. The employee&n…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Plainfield Man Sentenced For DWI Crash That Injured Seven: Somerset County Prosecutor Plainfield Man Sentenced For DWI Crash That Injured Seven: Somerset County Prosecutor
Plainfield Man Sentenced For DWI Crash That Injured Seven: Somerset County Prosecutor A 24-year-old Plainfield man was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday, May 10, for a DUI crash that left seven people injured last June. Jose Cruz Villanueva-Izaguirre was behind the wheel of a 2004 Honda Civic and collided with a Kia Sedona after driving at high speed through a red light on June 11, 2023, at 2:09 a.m., Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said. Villanueva-Izaguirre, as well as his passengers — two adults and a teen — were seriously injured in the crash, authorities said. One passenger was found unresponsive in the back seat, suffering from near-fatal i…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Student Brought Gun To School, Newark PD Says Student Brought Gun To School, Newark PD Says
Student Brought Gun To School, Newark PD Says A 16-year-old student was detained by police after he brought a handgun to a Newark school on Tuesday, May 14, authorities said. At 10:26 a.m., police responded to the KIPP Newark Collegiate Academy after a student was found to be in possession of a handgun, Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé said.  School officials turned the handgun over to responding officers, Fragé said. The 16-year-old male was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon by a minor, Fragé said.

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Officers Pursue Suspects Onto Route 78: Berkeley Heights PD Officers Pursue Suspects Onto Route 78: Berkeley Heights PD
Officers Pursue Suspects Onto Route 78: Berkeley Heights PD Two people who attempted to enter a home in Berkeley Heights led police on a pursuit on the early morning of Tuesday, April 30, authorities said. At 3:13 a.m., police in Berkeley Heights received a report of a resident from a resident on Cambridge Drive about a break-in, officers said in a release. Two people were attempting to gain entry into the home but then fled the scene in a BMW SUV before making entry, police said. Police intercepted the vehicle on Killarney Drive and initiated a pursuit, officers said. The chase went east on Mountain Avenue, south on Glenside Road and then onto Rout…

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by Sam Barron
Sports
Scottie Scheffler Says Arrest Was 'Big Misunderstanding' After Being Charged In Cop's Assault Scottie Scheffler Says Arrest Was 'Big Misunderstanding' After Being Charged In Cop's Assault
Scottie Scheffler Says Arrest Was 'Big Misunderstanding' After Being Charged In Cop's Assault Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 golfer in the world and a Bergen County native, has been charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer just before the second round of the PGA Championship, court records show. Scheffler, 27, was trying to drive past the scene of a fatal crash scene involving shuttle bus at the Valhalla Golf Club around 5 a.m. Friday, May 17, when he allegedly dragged an officer at the scene, as reported by ESPN. The reigning Masters champion was ultimately arrested and charged with  felony second-degree assault on a police officer, along with lesser charges of third-de…

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by Sam Barron
Police & Fire
Single Mom Struck, Killed By Vehicle In Maplewood, Prosecutor Says Single Mom Struck, Killed By Vehicle In Maplewood, Prosecutor Says
Single Mom Struck, Killed By Vehicle In Maplewood, Prosecutor Says A 28-year-old Irvington resident was killed after she was struck by a vehicle in Maplewood on Monday, May 13, authorities said. At 9:10 a.m., Maria Ganzhi Zhao was struck by a vehicle on the 1400 block of Springfield Avenue and pronounced dead at the scene, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.  Zhao, a native of Ecuador, was a single mother who is survived by her two daughters, Noemi, 7 and Genesis, 9 months, according to a fundraiser set up to support the family.  A viewing will be held on Saturday, May 18 at Mt. Alvarez Funeral Home in Newark from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., a…

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by Sam Barron
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