More hanky-panky sexual assault cases haunt Edna Mahan women’s prison: Feb. 3, 2018 Police Blotter

The following items are based on information from police, unless otherwise noted:

FLEMINGTON

More Alleged Hanky-Panky At Women’s Prison: Ronald Coleman Jr., 39, of Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, was arrested Friday and charged with seven counts of second-degree official misconduct, two counts of second-degree sexual assault, two counts of second-degree conspiracy to commit sexual assault, one count of second-degree pattern of official misconduct and three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact on allegations he used his senior corrections officer job at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Union Township to engage in sexual relationships with three inmates at the all-women’s prison. Coleman has been employed as a corrections officer since September 2000. The Bethlehem Police Department in Pennsylvania assisted in the arrest of Coleman at his Pennsylvania residence on Friday. He was being held at the Northampton County Jail in Pennsylvania awaiting extradition to New Jersey. The Edna Mahan Correctional Facility is infamous for hanky-panky between employees and inmates. With the arrest of Coleman, a total of seven male employees, including six corrections officers, have been charged over the last two years with engaging in sexual misconduct with female inmates at Edna Mahan. Other corrections officers charged were Ahnwar Dixon, Joel Mercado, Thomas Seguine, Jason Mays and Brian Y. Ambroise. A kitchen worker at the prison, Joel Herscap, was sentenced last year to three years in prison on an official misconduct charge for reportedly exchanging cigarettes with two female inmates in return for sexual favors.

BURLINGTON CITY

Killer Sentenced: Irie Y. Simmons, 19, of Pennsauken, was sentenced Friday to 19 years in state prison for fatally shooting an Eastampton man during a street fight in Burlington City last year. Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced the sentencing Friday in a press release. Simmons, who pleaded guilty in the case, must serve 85 percent of his sentence behind bars before becoming eligible for parole. He admits that on the night of Jan. 21, 2017, he and 30-year-old Eric Thomas II got into a fight near the intersection of East Broad and Library streets in Burlington City. Simmons further admits that during the course of the scuffle he shot Thomas, who was pronounced dead later that evening at Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County in Willingboro. Three of Simmons’ relatives and a friend addressed the court Friday on his behalf. The Thomas family wrote a seven-page letter to the court but did not attend the sentencing. Simmons wrote a letter to the court in which he apologized to the Thomas family and also stated, “I am more than the monster that the newspaper and Prosecutor claim.” The case was prosecuted by Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Douglas J. Bligh. The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Burlington City Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. The lead investigators were Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Michael Reagan and Burlington City Police Detective Bill Ruskowski. Burlington County Superior Court Judge Terrence R. Cook handed down Simmons’ 19-year prison sentence on Friday, honoring the plea agreement. Simmons pleaded guilty last December to one count of first-degree aggravated manslaughter in exchange for the 19-year term. From the bench, Judge Cook said he was satisfied with imposing the sentence called for under the plea agreement because he found it to be “fair and in the interest of justice in light of all of the circumstances of the case.” A Cinnaminson man was also charged for his involvement in the fight with the homicide victim. Xavier L. Myers, 20, faces one count of third-degree aggravated assault in the case.

UPPER MAKEFIELD, Pa.

Theft From Motor Vehicle: Jeffrey Jay Ward, 42, of Bristol, Pa., was processed Friday at the Upper Makefield Township Police Department in connection with a theft incident from Nov. 3, 2017, when police responded to Heritage Hills Drive for a report of a theft from motor vehicle in progress. The suspect fled, but the victim was able to provide a description of the actor and his vehicle. Further investigation revealed the actor to be Ward, and he was subsequently charged with theft from motor vehicles.