MEC&F Expert Engineers : 06/14/18

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Investigators weren't able to determine what caused a fire that killed the four Otto brothers near Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri


Cause of fire that killed 4 Missouri boys 'undetermined,' but some factors considered, report says

By Kaitlyn Schwers
kschwers@kcstar.com

June 14, 2018

Investigators weren't able to determine what caused a fire that killed four brothers near Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, but they have a couple guesses as to what may have contributed to the blaze, according to a report released this week.

The four boys were home alone when a fire destroyed their home in the early morning hours of April 19 in Lake Ozark. Firefighters found the bodies of Tyler Otto, 14; Cason Otto, 8; Max Otto, 5; and Levi Otto, 4 as well as two pets.

Fire officials had said in April the cause of the fire may never be determined due to the extent of the damage, but in its report this week, the state fire marshal's office said either a discarded cigarette or an errant spark from a fire pit or grill could have started the fire, according to KRCG.


Investigators interviewed the boys' mother, Christina Brazil, and her boyfriend, Mike Andrews, for the report. The two had pulled up to the burning home as firefighters worked to put out the flames on April 19.

According to KMIZ, Brazil told authorities they had used an ashtray sitting on their wooden deck for smoking.

Andrews also said the family had used the barbecue grill and fire pit on the deck the night before during a cook-out with family and friends, Lake News Online reported.

A preliminary investigation after the fire indicated an ember from a nearby barbecue pit could have started the blaze. Andrews told authorities he threw water over two burning logs before he left with Brazil that night to go to a bar, according to KRCG.

While they were out, Andrews said they tried to call the 14-year-old on his cellphone, but were unable to reach him. It's unclear what time the call was placed, Lake News Online reported.

"A discarded cigarette, spark from the fire pit or BBQ grill were all unable to be eliminated as a cause of the fire," the report concluded, according to KMIZ. "This fire is therefore classified as being undetermined in nature."

The home where the four Otto children died early Thursday morning in a house fire in Lake Ozark, Mo. ALLISON LONG along@kcstar.com 


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Four brothers home alone killed in Lake Ozark house fire


By Matt Campbell

mcampbell@kcstar.com


Updated April 20, 2018 08:14 AM

Four brothers who were home alone were found dead after an early morning fire destroyed a house Thursday in Lake Ozark, Mo.

The children were identified as 14-year-old Tyler Otto, 8-year-old Cason Otto, 5-year-old Max Otto and 4-year-old Levi Otto.

'They were her life.' Missouri mom sees her house burn with her four sons inside

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The School of the Osage posted on its Facebook page Thursday that it "is saddened today about the loss of four of our students in a house fire early this morning. Additional counseling support is available for students impacted."

Firefighters from the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District were dispatched at 12:51 a.m. and arrived at 1 a.m. to find the house at 1636 Carol Road engulfed in flames. They were unable to enter. Parts of the single-story structure had collapsed, and the heat was so intense the fire spread to the neighboring house.



Neighbors said the residents' vehicle was gone, so they thought no one was home. Fire officials said the children's mother and a man arrived home and told firefighters that four children were in the house.

When firefighters were finally able to enter the home they found the bodies of all four children and two pets. Autopsies on the children this week will determine the causes of death.

At a press conference Thursday afternoon, fire officials said the cause of the fire may never be determined because the damage is so extensive, but they said there was no reason to suspect it was deliberately set. Because of the time of day, the fire probably went unnoticed for some period of time. Gusty winds off the lake probably contributed to the growth of the fire.

Firefighters did not locate any smoke detectors, but they may have been destroyed in the flames, officials said.

The Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, Eldon and Rocky Mount fire departments assisted in fighting the blaze. The Missouri State Fire Marshal's office will continue to investigating.

Lake Ozark is about 135 miles southeast of Kansas City.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article209346654.html#storylink=cpy

Careless cooking with oil caused the fire at 101 S. Bradford Street that killed 54-year-old Sharon Ann Hohl in Allentown, PA






Shortly after going inside her east Allentown home on Tuesday afternoon, Sharon Ann Hohl put a pot of oil on the stove and went upstairs to ask her son if he wanted any of the chicken nuggets she was about to fry.

By the time Hohl got back downstairs, the kitchen was fully engulfed by fire and she was overcome by smoke and unable to make it out of the home alive, officials said Wednesday.

An Allentown fire marshal ruled Wednesday that careless cooking caused the fire at 101 S. Bradford Street that killed the 54-year-old woman known throughout her neighborhood as Pepper, fire Capt. John Christopher said. The fire, which the fire marshal ruled was accidental, was confined mostly to the kitchen at the rear of the home, Christopher said.

An autopsy completed Wednesday determined Hohl died from smoke inhalation and Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim ruled her manner of death an accident.

A man, believed by witnesses to be Hohl’s husband, was rescued from the home and immediately taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. Christopher said he’s doing better because he was interviewed by investigators.

 



A firefighter consoles a loved one of a woman who died in a fire Tuesday afternoon in east Allentown. (Manuel Gamiz Jr./The Morning Call)

A third person, believed to be Hohl’s son, was in the home when the fire erupted, but was able to make it out on his own, witnesses said.

Firefighters were dispatched around 1 p.m. on a report of a two-alarm fire with entrapment, finding flames and smoke billowing out the rear of Hohl’s home, where the kitchen is located. Before firefighters arrived, a group of neighbors had gone to the home, banging on doors and yelling for everyone to get out.

One neighbor said she saw Hohl come home 15 minutes before the fire started and the two women waved hello to each other.

Christopher said the investigation determined Hohl put a pot of oil on the stove and turned it on, shortly after getting home. She went upstairs and asked her son about the chicken nuggets. The conversation took longer than it should have, which is common with distracted cooking, Christopher said.

“We see that all the time," he said. “They get distracted or sidetracked and one minute turns into 10 minutes.”

Rescue efforts were delayed because the fire blocked access to the second floor. Hohl was found unresponsive on the second floor and was placed in a nearby ambulance, where paramedics tried to save her. She was pronounced dead on the scene at 2 p.m.

Several witnesses said they believe Hohl may have gone back into the home to rescue a cat.

Christopher said Hohl was looking for a cat when she was overcome by the smoke, but the investigation never concluded whether she escaped the fire and then returned for the cat.

===================================





By Sarah Cassi

scassi@lehighvalleylive.com,

For lehighvalleylive.com

The Allentown woman who went back into a burning house to save a cat on Tuesday died from smoke inhalation, Lehigh County's coroner said.

Coroner Scott Grim on Wednesday released the cause of death for Sharon Ann Hohl, and ruled her death an accident.

Hohl, 54, was one of three people home when the fire broke out about 1 p.m. Tuesday in the kitchen toward the rear of 101 S. Bradford St.


Hohl made it outside of the burning building, but went back in to try to save a cat, fire officials said. Hohl's body was found on the second floor of the home.

Firefighters rescued a male resident, and the third resident -- also male -- escaped without assistance, authorities said.

The fire was caused by careless cooking and ruled accidental, fire Capt. John Christopher said Wednesday.

Hohl had put a pot of oil on the stove to heat up and went upstairs to ask her son if he wanted something to eat, Christopher said.

"By the time she came down the kitchen was already on fire," he said.

The home is uninhabitable until repairs can be made. An adjoining home was not affected by the fire, according to the fire department.

The coroner's office and city fire department are investigating the death.





Sharon Ann Hohl
Obituary

Sharon Ann "Pepper" Hohl, 54, of Allentown, passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2018. Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late Paul N. and Lois J. (Stephen) Hohl. Sharon is survived by her Significant Other: Richard G. Quier, Sr; Children: Jason P. Defiore, Nicholas S. Defiore, Jr., Jasmine J. Quier, Richard G. Quier, Jr., Shari J. Rodriguez, Cheyanne Quier, Nicole Quier; Grandchildren: Damian, Adalyn, Jeremiah; Sisters: Karen, Barbara, Lisa, Linda; Brothers: Robert, Barry. Sharon was predeceased by a son Kyler S. Quier.

Lilianna Preciado, 35, a plumber with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission died after a car somehow became unhooked and slid off of the back of a tow truck, striking her



San Francisco utility worker dies on duty, police investigating

By Lauren Hernandez June 13, 2018



Lilianna Preciado, 35, a plumber with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission died while on duty Wednesday afternoon, according to officials.

Commission officials released a statement late Wednesday announcing the death of Lilianna Preciado, 35, who joined the commission as an apprentice utility plumber in 2012 before getting promoted to utility plumber.


“We are beyond devastated to learn that we lost one of our own employees this afternoon. Lilianna was a dedicated public servant who proudly served as one of only a few female plumbers on our team,” said Harlan Kelly, the general manager of the commission. “Our hearts and prayers are with her family, friends and co-workers tonight as we all mourn this terrible loss.”


The commission declined to provide details of her on-duty death, but stated officials are coordinating with the San Francisco Police Department to determine what led up to Preciado’s death.

San Francisco Police Department officials could not be reached Wednesday afternoon.


===========================




City Worker Dies In Diamond Heights Tow-Truck Accident
June 13, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — Police in San Francisco confirmed Wednesday afternoon that a city worker died in a freak accident in the Diamond Heights neighborhood.

The city worker was killed in an accident involving a flat-bed tow truck at about 2 p.m.


Chopper 5 shot video of the scene on 28th Street near Diamond Street.

Apparently, as the private tow truck was pulling the vehicle up on its flat bed, the car somehow became unhooked and slid off of the back of the tow truck, striking one of the several city workers working in the street nearby.

The female worker was taken to Zuckerburg San Francisco General Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission identified the woman who died as 34-year-old Lilianna Preciado, who was working for the San Francisco PUC as a utility plumber.

The Public Utilities Commission released the following statement:

“We are beyond devastated to learn that we lost one of our own employees this afternoon. Lilianna was a dedicated public servant who proudly served as one of only a few female plumbers on our team. Our hearts and prayers are with her family, friends and coworkers tonight as we all mourn this terrible loss.”

SF Water posted a tribute to Preciado on Twitter.


San Francisco police officers have the area blocked off as they investigate the incident. There is no word yet of when that will reopen.

Cal-OSHA is also investigating the accident.

A construction worker electrocuted to death in Odenton, MD when he came in contact with a live electrical wire as he was installing siding on a new house while standing on a scaffold






The incident was reported at about 2:10 p.m. in the area of Annapolis Road just east of Piney Orchard Parkway in Odenton.

Odenton, MD
 
A construction worker died after being electrocuted in Odenton on Tuesday, Anne Arundel County Fire Department Capt. Russ Davies said Wednesday.

Fire officials were called to the 1200 block of Annapolis Road at 2:05 p.m., where they found the worker. They were unable to resuscitate him, officials said.

The man, in his mid-30s, had been installing siding on a new house while standing on a scaffold when he came in contact with a live electrical wire, Davies said.

Maryland Occupational Safety and Health officials plan to investigate.

This is the second work-related death in Anne Arundel this week, and a third occupational safety investigation opened in the last few months.

A worker died when he was struck and pinned by a branch from a tree he was trimming in Annapolis on Sunday. He has still not been identified.

The body of Jose Gilberto Loza Ramirez, 21, was found last month after he went missing in a workplace accident on the Severn River in April.

Ramirez and another man were working for Prestige Yacht Management when they used a kayak in an attempt to recover a floating platform that had become loose, a Maryland Natural Resources Police spokesman said. Neither man was wearing a life vest when the kayak overturned.

THE CORRUPT COPS OF NEW JERSEY: PASSAIC COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICERS RONALD A. LUCAS AND VICTOR D'AGOSTINO USE OF PERJURED TESTIMONY AND FALSE, FABRICATED OR FRAUDULENT EVIDENCE TO MISLEAD THE GRAND JURORS AND HELP INDICT AN INNOCENT HOMEOWNER









PASSAIC COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICERS RONALD A. LUCAS AND VICTOR D'AGOSTINO USE OF PERJURED TESTIMONY AND FALSE, FABRICATED OR FRAUDULENT EVIDENCE TO MISLEAD THE GRAND JURORS AND HELP INDICT AN INNOCENT HOMEOWNER
Sheriff’s Officers Ronald A. Lucas and Victor D’Agostino both lied before the grand jury, i.e., they committed perjury, a criminal offense.  We are asking this Court or the Attorney General to charge these individuals with perjury after we prove their lies and fabrications in an evidentiary hearing.
Between their investigation reports and the grand jury testimony, Lucas and D’Agostino have presented at least eight (8) different scenarios of what happened during the morning of June 28, 2011.  That is, eight (8) different scenarios they present in their own words (either written or spoken), without even being cross examined by the defense.  Can this Court imagine what will happen if Dr. Stephanatos or his defense counsel is allowed to cross-examine these lying individuals?  We can guarantee to this Court that there will be some very significant Perry Mason moments and we are asking that we are allowed to cross-examine them;  the right to confront the accusers is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the Federal and New Jersey Constitution.  The Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that "in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right…to be confronted with the witnesses against him." Generally, the right is to have a face-to-face confrontation with witnesses who are offering testimonial evidence against the accused in the form of cross-examination during a trial. The Fourteenth Amendment makes the right to confrontation applicable to the states and not just the federal government.

General overview of Dr. Stephanatos’ former dwelling that was seized by the conspirators, Robert Del Vecchio, ATF, LLC and others after hiring the Passaic County Sheriff using a default writ of possesion that is only valid for uncontested cases and vacant homes.  Photo taken from the front of the property, two weeks prior to the tragic incidents of June 28, 2011.  Note the philodendron subincisum planter at the front of the porch area.  Nick Mango went behind the philodendron subincisum planter and placed his face at the side window so that he can see inside the home. This is a criminal activity prohibited under 2C:18-3. Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places and in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and N.J. Const. (1947), Art. I, Par. 7.  Although we do not know the location of Lucas from the investigatory reports, Lucas claims that went behind the rhododendron bushes where he claimed that he fell and injured his shoulder.  These facts, including the location of Lucas, prove beyond any doubt that Lucas was illegally peering and searching inside a dwelling without having a Warrant for Removal (see N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 Unlawful entry prohibited).  He then later claimed that he was just coming up the steps and he was assaulted at about 8:55 am, despite the fact that electronic records obtained from Dr. Stephanatos business computer showed that he was sending emails to his business clients as of 8:50 am and earlier.  Lucas also claimed that a plastic Pelican scientific case used by vendors of Dr. Stephanatos’ business was a metal ammunition box, a fraudulent assertion that has been refuted before Judge Filko by Prosecutor Peter Robby.  Lucas also claimed that he saw a “shotgun”, but no “shotgun” was ever found.  In yet another version, Lucas and D’Agostino state and write that they thought that the plastic Pelican case was an IED or a bomb!
I also bring to the Court’s attention of NJ Rev Stat § 2C:33-11.1 (2013) - Certain actions relevant to evictions, disorderly persons offense that deal specifically with residential real properties.   That statute also states that a Warrant is required for residential properties.  The sheriff committed a criminal offense in violation of that statute by entering Defendant’s property without a warrant for removal and removing him from his residential premises.
A person commits a disorderly persons offense if, after being warned by a law enforcement or other public official of the illegality of that action, the person (1) takes possession of residential real property or effectuates a forcible entry or detainer of residential real property without lawful execution of a warrant for possession in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1974, c.47 (C.2A:42-10.16) or without the consent of the occupant solely in possession of the residential real property.  NJ Rev Stat § 2C:33-11.1

Lucas Lie #1
Specifically, both officers lied when they testified that the defendant had his front door open and his storm door shut and that they were able to see the defendant pointing a gun at them through the glass storm door. (Lucas testified to this at GJT10-24 to 11-12; Da7; D’Agostino testified to this at GJT16-1 to 17; Da10, Motion to Change Venue).
It is the defendant’s contention that he had the front door (and all other doors) closed and locked with a deadbolt.  He had placed a business sign in the front door (see image below) so that the Sheriff’s Officers would see that there was a tenant on the premises and that they could not proceed with the illegal removal without a Warrant for Removal obtained from a Law Division Judge in compliance with the Unlawful Entry and Detainer Laws of this state.  See N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 Unlawful entry prohibited.  Had defendant left the door open, they would not have been able to see the business sign.
In fact, in the Search Warrant prepared by Detective Scala, he writes that “CPL. Lucas relates that upon knocking on the front entrance door of the residence”.  So, there you have it:  Lucas included statements in a sworn affidavit that he actually knocked the front entrance door.
It makes no sense that I would keep the front door open for the sheriff to come in, when in fact I did not want anybody to come inside my home while the appeals were pending in the appellate courts and there was a lawsuit in the Law Division to vacate the tax deed.  These two deputies are obviously lying to cover their criminal activities.  Having a JD Degree, I knew that if a leave a door open, I am actually inviting the sheriff to enter my home; the same result is if I answer the door.  That is why I did not answer the door (in fact, I very rarely if ever answer the front door because I have a mild form of Asperger’s.).  I would never do such a thing. 
Furthermore, the sheriff post-incident reports all show that my back door was locked with deadbolt, my garage was locked with deadbolt, and my car was also locked.  Who locks his car inside a locked garage, and who places deadbolts in garage?  Well, a person like Dr. Stephanatos who knew the law and knew that he needed to prevent everybody from coming inside his home, especially that day, until the Appellate Courts adjudicate the case.  Dr. Stephanatos also knew that what Robert Del Vecchio and ATF were doing was illegal and that they took advantage of the sheriff and the lack of competence or heavy caseload of Chancery Judge McVeigh.  These actions of the antitrust conspirators was part of the scheme to defraud homeowners (including Dr. Stephanatos) of the property.

Lucas Lie #2
During the grand jury proceedings, Lucas also lied to the jurors when he said that he was only trying to serve process papers.  This is an obvious fabrication, a terrible lie, as he also testified that several (they state that there were four of them) officers were dispatched during that day in two sheriff vehicles with the specific intend to forcefully remove Dr. Stephanatos without obtaining a Warrant for Removal from a Law Division Judge.  The process papers he referred to had already been delivered to Dr. Stephanatos.  How come several officers are now attempting to re-deliver the same papers?  This makes no sense, as it is a lie, a perjury committed by Lucas.
In fact, the purpose of these four officers was to “secure the house”. See Lt. Nicholas Mango’s report, dated June 29, 2011.  Mango wrote that “we told the ATF, LLC property manager to stand by at the entrance to Manitou Estates”, “until we secured the house”.  The officers also came carrying MI-16 assault rifles, proving the aggressive behavior of these people.

View of the front door of Dr. Stephanatos’ dwelling at 687 Indian Road, Wayne, New Jersey.  Photo taken from the front of the property, two months after the tragic incidents of June 28, 2011.  Note the significant sun glare, making it impossible to see inside the home during the morning hours.  The philodendron subincisum planter at the front of the porch area has been removed, as the conspirators emptied Dr. Stephanatos’ home from all his belongings.  After nobody answered the door at 8:50-8:55 AM on June 28, 2011, and because of the sun glare, Nick Mango went behind the philodendron subincisum planter and placed his face at the side window so that he can see inside the home.  This is a criminal activity prohibited under 2C:18-3. Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places.  It is also an illegal search prohibited by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and N.J. Const. (1947), Art. I, Par. 7.  Mango then went behind the yew and rhododendron bushes where he claimed that he fell and injured his shoulder.  These facts prove beyond any doubt that Mango was illegally peering and searching inside a dwelling without having a Warrant for Removal (see N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 Unlawful entry prohibited).  Lying Lucas then later claimed that he was just coming up the steps and he was assaulted.  Lying Lucas also claimed that a Pelican scientific case used by vendors of Dr. Stephanatos’ business was a bomb; when no bomb was found he claimed that he thought it was a “metal ammunition box”, a fraudulent assertion that has been refuted before Judge Filko by Prosecutor Peter Roby.  Lying Lucas also claimed that he saw a “shotgun”.  This is what was reported to the other officers and to the media.  The media published and televised reports show that Lying Lucas claimed that there was a “shotgun”.  No “shotgun” was ever found (because it only exists in the imagination of Lying Lucas).  Lying Lucas then changed his story and after he had a chance to see the defendant’s lawful guns, he claimed that he saw a rifle, instead.
I also bring to the Court’s attention of NJ Rev Stat § 2C:33-11.1 (2013) - Certain actions relevant to evictions, disorderly persons offense that deal specifically with residential real properties.   That statute also states that a Warrant is required for residential properties.  The sheriff committed a criminal offense in violation of that statute by entering Defendant’s property without a warrant for removal and removing him from his residential premises.
A person commits a disorderly persons offense if, after being warned by a law enforcement or other public official of the illegality of that action, the person (1) takes possession of residential real property or effectuates a forcible entry or detainer of residential real property without lawful execution of a warrant for possession in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1974, c.47 (C.2A:42-10.16) or without the consent of the occupant solely in possession of the residential real property.  NJ Rev Stat § 2C:33-11.1

Lucas Lie #3
In addition, I have irrefutable evidence (email and phone logs) showing that I was either on the computer doing business work or calling the state officials right at the time that these sheriff’s deputies claim that they saw me through an open front door.  For example, Lucas testified that he arrived at the property at 8:50 am.  There is an electronic record provided in the Appendix to Motion to Change Venue that shows that Dr. Stephanatos sent an e-mail to one of his clients at 8:50 am.  This irrefutable evidence proves beyond any doubt, that Dr. Stephanatos was at his office computer at the back of the house (about 50-feet away from the front door) doing his normal daily business.  Thus Dr. Stephanatos has an irrefutable alibi to refute the false statements of these two corrupt individuals who claim that at around 8:50 to 8:55 am they saw him pointing a gun at them as they were walking up the front porch steps.
Another reason that the front doors were both closed is the following:  I have window-mounted air conditioning units.  I would take the air conditioning units off the window around mid-September and I would install them around Memorial Day (end of May).  When I install the air conditioning units, then I keep all the doors and the windows closed, so that I do not lose cooling energy.  My home was located in a heavily wooded area of Wayne, NJ and it is very humid during the summer;  it is imperative that the doors and windows stay closed!
Yet another reason I always keep the doors closed is that my home office is located at the back of the dwelling and I cannot hear very well what is happening at the front of the home.  Since the home is located in a rather isolated, wooded area of Wayne, it has been burglarized before (I believe circa 1996).  The burglary was the reason that I decided to legally purchase guns for self-protection and protection of my business, as packages had been stolen from the front steps.  Thus, the lack of hearing and the fear of burglary and stolen packages or instruments, had made me keep the doors locked at all times- all doors, in fact: back doors, front doors, and garage doors.  Besides, I very rarely used the front doors, as the garage entrance is located closer to the back door entrance.  So, I almost never used the front doors.  That is another reason that Lucas and D’Agostino committed perjury when they said that I left the front door open.  The computer electronic record was in the possession of the State before the grand jury proceedings; however, the corrupt prosecutor Walter Dewey refused to give it to the jury and of course refused to allow me to testify to explain my whereabouts.
Lucas Lie #4
Dr. Stephanatos also requests this Court to take judicial notice of the fact that a box taken by the Passaic County employees from Dr. Stephanatos’ residence was a business instrument (a so-called Pelican case used for transporting sensitive business equipment) and not a “metal ammunition box” as the Passaic County employees have been misleading the grand jury and the courts and the public, damaging Dr. Stephanatos reputation.  It is obvious that these two crooked individuals wanted to give the false impression to the grand jurors that Dr. Stephanatos had pre-planned an assault and he had stockpiled ammunition in a metal box and that he left this metal ammunition box in his front steps!  This was highly prejudicial fabrication by the corrupt Passaic County prosecutors and Lucas/D’Agostino.  Of course, who would place a metal ammunition box at his front steps, leave the front door open for the sheriff to come inside his home to illegally remove him, and then go back 50 feet away from the door to his back office and start writing emails and doing business for his clients?  Nobody; certainly not Dr. Stephanatos who is a highly educated individual who holds BS/MS/PhD Degrees in engineering and a J.D. Degree as well and has served as expert engineer for many years.  These are all lies and fabrications of Lucas and D’Agostino and the Passaic County corrupt prosecutors.
Of course we now know that these were fraudulent and perjured statements by Lucas and D’Agostino.  The State has admitted before Judge Filko, that the alleged “metal ammunition box” was a rental instrument contained inside a plastic protective case (called Pelican case) to be picked up by a vendor of Dr. Stephanatos’ business, Pine Environmental, Inc. the morning of June 28, 2011.  The Passaic County prosecutor, Peter Roby, has already admitted in open court before Judge Filko that it was a rental instrument for Dr. Stephanatos’ business- however, the prosecutor during the grand jury proceedings said to the grand jurors that the two lying and corrupt Sheriff Officers (Lucas and D’Agostino) thought that the business instrument was “a metal ammunition box”, giving the impression to the grand jurors that I was prepared for a battle and I had a metal ammunition box at my front porch.  (Of course these are insane assertions by these two crooked deputies, as this was a plastic box and not a metal box and only an insane moron or a crooked “officer of the law” would mistake it for a metal ammunition box  - please see the sample images below to see the significant differences between an ammunition box and a Pelican case).  In fact, in November 2011, when Dr. Stephanatos was allowed to get back his seized business computers, he was told by the sheriff employee doing the paperwork that the sheriff did not know what the Pelican case was.  Imagine, if these two crooks lied about the Pelican case, what else have they lied about? – Well, they pretty much lied just about everything.  We demand a full investigation into their corrupt and perjured testimony, as these two liars have caused the events of June 28, 2011 through their incompetence and lying and fabrications and perjured testimonies and false reports.

Typical metal and plastic ammunition boxes.  Note the significant difference between these boxes and the Pelican case shown below.
 
This image shows a typical Pelican case used to ship scientific instruments similar to the one seized from Dr. Stephanatos’ front porch.  The State has already admitted on the record in open court before Judge Filko that the Pelican case had been placed at the porch to be picked up by the vendor, Pines Environmental, Inc. on the morning of June 28, 2011.  The State lied to the grand jurors and told them that they believed it was a bomb or IED or a metal ammunition box and that is one of the reasons they believed they were facing a dangerous person in Dr. Stephanatos.  What a bunch of liars and losers.

Of course later, in November 2011 before Judge Filko, Mr. Peter Roby, a Passaic County prosecutor, admitted that the business instrument was not an ammunition box and he did confirm that he talked to Pine Environmental, Inc and did confirm to him that their employee (the Pine Environmental driver) was due to come and pick up the instrument that morning from Dr. Stephanatos’ front porch (this is where I would typically place the various rental instruments for pickup and delivery).  Again, none of these facts made it to the grand jury, in a clear attempt by Peter Roby and his associates (such as Water Dewey who made the presentation to the grand jury) to mislead and lie to the grand jury so that the jurors believe that somehow Dr. Stephanatos left an illegal or dangerous device at his front porch.  What a bunch of liars these prosecutors and sheriff deputies are.  The indictment must be dismissed with prejudice, based on these lies and fabrications and omissions of crucial facts by the State and Passaic County employees so that they mislead and prejudice the grand jury against Dr. Stephanatos.  In fact Dr. Stephanatos’ lawyer, Mr. Carl Herman, had met and also sent a confirmatory letter to the Passaic County prosecutors (see Exhibit B in the 2015 Motions to Dismiss, for a copy of the letter send to the State) to allow me to testify during the proceedings regarding the events of June 28, 2011.  However, the Passaic County prosecutors refused to inform the grand jurors that Dr. Stephanatos wanted testify and present clearly exculpatory evidence for elements of all the charges.  Thus the State fed the grand jury with lies and fabrications and half “truths”, against the grand jury law of New Jersey.  Essentially the State impermissibly and prejudicially interfered with the grand jury’s investigative function.

Lucas Lie #5
Lucas and D’Agostino also claimed that they did not ring the door bell and that instead, they saw a man waiting for them with a gun.  This is also a fabrication, a lie, as Lucas rang the doorbell at about 8:52 am (or between 8:50 am and 8:55 am).  In fact, in the Search Warrant prepared by Detective Scala, he writes that “CPL. Lucas relates that upon knocking on the front entrance door of the residence”.  So, there you have it:  Lucas included statements in a sworn affidavit that he actually knocked the front entrance door.
The sheriff investigation reports show that other sheriff employees wrote that “somebody answered the door”.  These statements corroborate Dr. Stephanatos’ recollection that Mango (D’Agostino) rang the doorbell.  When Dr. Stephanatos did not answer the door (I would never answer the door, and certainly I would not answer it that day), he bypassed the two big planters and went towards the edge of the porch and started peering inside the home, as the sun glare makes it impossible to see inside the home during the morning hours (it is a north/northeast facing home).  That way he performed an illegal search in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and N.J. Const. (1947), Art. I, Par. 7.
I must add that even the statement that “Lucas knocked the front door” is false, for the main reason that you cannot knock the front door because there is a glass storm door in front of the front wooden door.
Lucas Lie #6
After peering inside the dwelling, Lucas (Mango) then jumped off or fell off the edge of the porch, proving that he was located at the side window peering inside. He does admit in his Investigation Report that he “jumped off the porch”.  He could not simply follow the steps of the porch the same way D’Agostino did, because the planters blocked his exit from his location at the edge of the porch.  The only way he could go was behind the bushes.  This is crucial evidence, adding credibility to my scenario and proving yet again that Lucas lied to the grand jurors.

View of the rhododendron bushes located before Dr. Stephanatos’ dwelling.   Photo taken four weeks prior to the tragic incidents of June 28, 2011.  Note the philodendron subincisum planter at the front of the porch area (middle left in the above image).  At about 8:55 AM on June 28, 2011, after nobody showed up at the front door, Lucas went behind the philodendron subincisum planter and placed his face at the side window of the front door so that he can see inside the home.  This is a criminal activity prohibited under 2C:18-3. Unlicensed entry of structures; defiant trespasser; peering into dwelling places and an illegal search in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and N.J. Const. (1947), Art. I, Par. 7
I also bring to the Court’s attention of NJ Rev Stat § 2C:33-11.1 (2013) - Certain actions relevant to evictions, disorderly persons offense that deal specifically with residential real properties.   That statute also states that a Warrant is required for residential properties.  The sheriff committed a criminal offense in violation of that statute by entering Defendant’s property without a warrant for removal and removing him from his residential premises.
A person commits a disorderly persons offense if, after being warned by a law enforcement or other public official of the illegality of that action, the person (1) takes possession of residential real property or effectuates a forcible entry or detainer of residential real property without lawful execution of a warrant for possession in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of P.L.1974, c.47 (C.2A:42-10.16) or without the consent of the occupant solely in possession of the residential real property.  NJ Rev Stat § 2C:33-11.1

Furthermore, it is not possible that these two individuals did not say anything to me, without announcing that they were sheriff officers or law enforcement officers and without me saying anything to them (as they have testified);  they were both armed with MI-16 assault rifles and prejudiced against me (based on the testimony by Lucas and the reports by Mango and Ernst) and it makes no sense that they simply walked away;  the only way this could have happened is if the doors were both locked (i.e., both the storm and the main wooden door) and they could not have any contact or communication with me at that time.  These are the same type of people who shoot to kill citizens in their backs and then plant evidence and even shoot and kill kids who hold plastic guns.  And they claim they simply walked away?  Hard to believe.  Because it is a total and complete fabrication.
Please note that Lucas and D’Agostino are partners.  They testified that they both walk towards the front steps at the same time.  Thus, it makes not much sense that Lucas would go behind my front bushes (the yews and the rhododendrons), while D’Agostino would go towards his sheriff car.  This scenario is only likely if Lucas/Mago was located in front of the side door window and at the very edge of it (this is where I saw him standing, having his face on the glass window and illegally peering inside the home).  There was no reason for him to do so, if he was just delivering papers, as he testified.  He could have left the papers in the mailbox or left them at the door step.
Furthermore, Lucas and D’Agostino testified/wrote that they split in two different directions.  Lucas/Mango went towards the “woods” (he meant(?) the bushes located before Dr. Stephanatos’ residence), while D’Agostino went towards the sheriff cars parked at the top of the driveway.  This can only happen if Mango was standing at the edge of the porch at the side door window and from there he went behind the bushes (the “woods”) located in the front of the home.  That was the only route he had available, because the two planters were in his way and he could not go back towards the door easily.  This proves my allegation that Mango was standing at the very edge of the porch and by the side door window, peering inside the home.  D’Agostino was standing in the walkway, and from there he walked towards the sheriff cars at the top of the driveway.
If both of them were standing in front of the door, there is no reason for them to take different routes.  All these facts provide irrefutable proof that these two crooked “officers of the law” have committed perjury.
MORE PROOFS OF PERJURY BY LUCAS AND D’AGOSTINO
In paragraph 2 of section 4 of the Warrant Affidavit, Lucas “relates” to Detective Scala “that upon knocking on the front entrance door of the residence”.  See excerpt from the warrant affidavit, Defense Exhibit D-11.  This statement to Detective Scala fully corroborates Dr. Stephanatos’ statements that his front door was closed – very closed – with a lock and deadbolt closed.
However, in his June 28, 2011 report prepared by Cpl. Lucas, he writes the following: “As we proceeded toward the front door I ascented[sic] the steps and noticed the front wood door was open and a glass storm door made the interior of the house visible to me”.  At that moment a man came from the hallway with a long object in his left hand”.
The statement by Lucas to Detective Scala is diametrically different than the statements given by Lucas and D’Agostino at the grand jury proceedings and also wrote in their reports: that they did not knock the door and they were assaulted as they were coming up the front porch steps and they were able to see everything so nicely and so clearly because the front door was magically open (that stupid Dr. Stephanatos, he should have left his door closed! (sarcasm here)).  

This is the front door of Dr. Stephanatos’ home.  All the planters to the right and drapes have been removed, including the pet playing tower placed inside door and facing the side storm window.  Note the significant sun glare, as this is a North/Northeast facing door.  Nobody can see inside the house due to the glare.  This is an extremely important fact.

So, based on these diametrically different statements by Lucas, the prosecutor knew or should have known that Lucas lied.  At the point at which the prosecutor learned of the perjury before and during the grand jury, the prosecutor was under a duty to notify the court and the grand jury, to correct the cancer of justice that had become apparent to him.  But he did not.  Welcome to Passaic County!
Furthermore, in his grand jury testimony, Officer Lucas identified the “Ruger M77 Mark II, 270 caliber Winchester single bullet hunting rifle” as being the weapon that the defendant pointed at him. (GJT27-8 to 13; Da15, Motion to Change Venue).  It is critical to note that the hunting rifle is a BROWN COLOR GUN.  However, in section 2 of paragraph 4 of the Warrant Affidavit, Lucas “relates” to Detective Scala that he saw a “BLACK COLORED RIFLE”.  Therefore, the affidavit paragraph 4, section 2 included a material false statement that was included with reckless disregard for the truth.  So, again the prosecutor knew or should have known that Lucas lied before the grand jury when he selected a different color gun than the one he related to Detective Scala.
I respectfully submit to this Court that the statements made by Lucas in the early moments of the June 28, 2011 events are closer to the truth (but not quite the truth), than his fabrications that are start pouring in later in the day and afterwards.  For example, Lt. Nick Mango wrote in his report that “nobody was hurt”.  Also, Lucas never wrote in his report that he was injured.  He specifically wrote:  As I entered the woods I stumbled”. However, during this grand jury testimony, he provided a diametrically different picture:
Lucas claimed that he fell on his elbow and shoulder, but was able to regain his balance, and he ran into a wooded area to seek cover behind a large boulder. (GJT11-18 to 21; Da7, Motion to Change Venue).  Lucas claimed that he tore his biceps and had surgery on his shoulder, and “ended up having a pretty severe injury” in his shoulder, requiring “five pins.” (GJT12-7 to 9; Da8, Motion to Change Venue).  Of course we now know that this guy was a football player and body builder and suffered these injuries over his many years of lifting heavy weights and hitting his opponents with his shoulder (he was a linebacker with the Pompton Lakes Cardinals).  He then went on the defraud the New Jersey Police and Firemen Retirement Fund by claiming on the job disability.  What a crook!

AND NOW THE BOMBSHELL OF THE CENTURY
Lucas Lie #8
All the above lies and fabrications and inconsistencies make one wonder:  how is it possible these sheriff employees made so many mistakes in recollection of the evidence?  Well, the answer to this question is that Ron Lucas was not the person peering through the side window of Dr. Stephanatos.  It was another young sheriff employee, Nick Mango.  Proof of that it was Nick Mango illegally peering through the side window is found in the signed statement by Ronald Lucas that it was Nick Mango who was at the front door.  Lucas however, cannot get his story straight and has made so many errors and there are numerous inconsistencies in his story and between what he wrote in his report and said during the grand jury and between what D’Agostino wrote and said.
Defendant Basilis N. Stephanatos has in his possession a letter signed by former Cpl. Ronald Lucas (#964) where he states that it was Lt. Nick Mango who was at the front door.  He specifically stated the following “Lt mango stated owner came to door…”.  See Defense Exhibit D-1, filed with this Court in March 2018.
This letter proves beyond ANY DOUBT that Lucas lied when he stated that he was assaulted in the porch of Defendant’s former residence and place of business on June 28, 2011.  The perjury charges are fully corroborated by the lies Lucas stated regarding his old football shoulder injury; and by the numerous inconsistent statements (both verbal and written) made by him and D’Agostino.  See also the handwritten letter from the Defendant (while in Bergen County Jail) to Judge Ernest Caposela and to the Governor, dated April 2016 where he describes a young, tall, dark head hair, no facial hair, with intense “police” eyes person illegally peering through his side door window.  That dark-hair individual will be proven to be Nick Mango.  By contrast, Lucas is completely bald, has lots of facial hair (a beard) and he is shorter than Mango.  Dr. Stephanatos does not remember any sheriff employee resembling Ronald A. Lucas.
However, should the above evidence is not sufficient to immediately dismiss all charges against the Defendant, Dr. Stephanatos is asking that Judge Guida orders an urgent hearing to cross-examine the four (4) officers involved:  Ronald A. Lucas, Victor D’Agostino, Nick Mango and Capt. Fred Ernst.  This hearing can happen on May 21, 2018. 
 
The lying corrupt thug, Ronad A. Lucas.
Lucas Filed False Charges
I am attaching the original charge filed by Lucas on 6/28/2011 under Section NJS 2C:17-2C.  As you can see, he wrote the reason for the charge is “PLACING SLIVER[sic] METAL CONTAINER ON HIS FRONT STEPS CAUSING THE EVACUATION OF NEIGHBORS”.  As you know by now, this was a BLACK PLASTIC SAFETY CONTAINER FOR MY BUSINESS INSTRUMENT placed there to be picked up by the vendor, Pines Environmental.  In fact, Metropolitan Environmental Services had correspondence with the Passaic County Sheriff’s office indicating that they are a tenant;  the Sheriff’s office responded and stated that they not removal tenants.  So, the sheriffs knew that there was business on the premises;  these are fraudulent charges that make the Passaic County prosecutors look very stupid and/or malicious.
Note that Lucas writes: “SLIVER [sic]” (he meant silver).  However, this was a black plastic instrument case.  This is another clue telling me that Lucas was not there to eye-witness the instrument.  So, this is another proof that Lucas falsified his police reports and wrote falsehoods in his official papers.
THIS IS VERY SERIOUS ALLEGATION AND THIS COURT MUST PERFORM AN URGENT FACTUAL INVESTIGATION (AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING AS WAS REQUESTED UNDER MOTION #30).

LUCAS LIED DURING HIS GRAND JURY TESTIMONY WHEN HE CLAIMED THAT HE INJURED HIS LEFT SHOULDER DURING A FALL AT MY PROPERTY ON JUNE 28, 2011

Lying Lucas is #41

As part of an investigation we have been performing, we discovered that Ronald A. Lucas, a former Passaic County sheriff officer with the Civil Division lied about his on-the-job shoulder injury.  Lucas claimed that he fell on the job on June 28, 2011 at 687 Indian Road, Wayne, NJ and that he injured his left shoulder requiring several pins.  He then filed a disability claim with the New Jersey Division of Pensions and Benefits (Police and Firemen Retirement System).  He was granted disability for one year with subsequent review.  After he retired with claimed disability, he obtained a job as part-time security guard at the Pequannock High School.
Bombshell evidence contradicting Lying Lucas’ injury claims: We have obtained a report by Lt. Nick Mango who stated that nobody was injured at the scene.  The report by Lucas also states that he stumbled and not fell.
We discovered that Mr. Lucas suffered shoulder injuries while playing football and lifting heavy weights over his lifetime.  He was a linebacker with the Pompton Lakes Cardinals (he played at position #41), using his shoulder to hit and tackle his opponents during practice and during football games.  He also lifted very heavy weights to do body building.  Lucas has fallen on his shoulder probably thousand times during his athletic and training career.
Everybody knows that linebackers hit and tackle their opponents using their shoulders.  These athletes also lift heavy weights and they end-up injuries their shoulders.   He (Lucas) even made the All County Team in 1980, showing how hard he was working out.  Based on our investigation, we found that weight lifting athletes do suffer shoulder injuries of the type claimed by Lucas.
He also trained his two sons (Dean Lucas and Ronnie Lucas) into playing TE and DE positions also with the Cardinals football team.  In fact, linebackers suffer at least 13.5 percent of all football injuries and at least 65 percent of the linebackers end up undergoing surgery.
We have obtained photos showing Mr. Lucas lifting weights, after his alleged job-ending disability.  See for example the attached image that is dated December 2013.
It is obvious to a reasonable and objective person that Lucas (in his mid-50s) took this incident on June 28, 2011 to claim on-the job-injury to be able to repair his previously injured shoulder at taxpayers’ expense and to retire and then blame Basilis Stephanatos for his injuries.  After he retired, he started the double dipping.  The finest of New Jersey at "work".
The Eight Shades of Lucas
These corrupt liars cannot get their story straight – can this Court imagine what will happen when we cross-examine them?  According to the old maxim, “False in one – false in all”, we respectfully submit that Ronald Lucas and Victor D’Agostino cannot be trusted, they lied and fabricated their stories to serve the people who hired them, i.e., the conspirators Robert Del Vecchio, American Tax Funding, et al.  If they lied in one or several parts of their story, then the entire deposition must be dismissed.  Besides, I do not believe that the prosecutor will bring these two liars to testify and risk being convicted of perjury.  Right now, they are safe, as the statute of limitations for perjury has run, since they made these sworn fabrications before the grand jury in September 2011.
It is important to note that Lucas has changed his story a number of times:  at one time he claims that he was walking the front stairs and he saw a man standing there and pointing a gun; at another version he claims that he was standing at the open door and that he then saw a person coming towards him; at a third time he claims that there was an altercation; at a forth scenario, he claims that Dr. Stephanatos never said anything to him (i.e., that there was no altercation); at a fifth scenario, he wrote in his report that he “jumped of the porch” (meaning that he was already on the porch and not just coming up the stairs); at a sixth version he claims that he never rang the doorbell; at a seven scenario, he stated to his colleagues that he rang the doorbell (this is confirmed by the statement of other officers who wrote that Lucas told them that Dr. Stephanatos answered the door); at another version, he claims that Dr. Stephanatos was barricaded, yet he also claimed that Dr. Stephanatos had his front door wide open; at another version he claims that he saw a “shotgun” pointed at him (this was also published in the news media and reported in some sheriff employee reports, but no “shotgun was ever found because it was a fabrication by Lucas the Lier) but then he changed his story (after he had a chance to illegally enter my home) and now he claims that he saw a “black colored” gun and then he changed his story yet again and now claims that he saw a brown colored single-shot Ruger hunting rifle; in another version he claims that he saw a bomb or an IED at the porch, only to change his story and claim that he saw a “metal ammunition box” – the State has already admitted that none of these fabrications were true and that it was a Pelican case used in Dr. Stephanatos’ business (Metropolitan Environmental Services) that was about to be picked up by the owner of the case, Pine Environmental, Inc..  However, the State never made these findings aware to the grand jury.
All these versions have been presented by Lucas, without having been cross examined by the defense, without placing a time table to his story elements and without cross-referencing the story given by D’Agostino in his testimony and his Investigation Report and corroboration with the investigation reports of others. 
THE LIES, FABRICATIONS AND INTENTIONAL OMISSIONS OF WALTER DEWEY
The prosecutor, Walter Dewey, also mislead the jurors and fabricated “facts” by eliciting false testimony from Officer D’Agostino regarding the pointing of a gun out of a “window”.  The officers had indicated that they saw me standing behind a glass storm door and that I never opened the door.  No “window” was ever mentioned by the two individuals, as no window exists in the front porch of the dwelling.  See attached image of the front door of the dwelling, showing that no window is present.
(I denied that I was standing behind the storm door:  I have stated many times that I was in my office doing my business, I have the computer records to prove it, those records were submitted to the prosecutors, and I kept the doors of the home locked with a deadbolt). 
But the prosecutor asked D’Agostino if I was pointing a gun “out the window”.  Then D’Agostino said “yes”.  See Grand Jury Transcripts, Motion to Change Venue.  


This is the front door of Dr. Stephanatos’ home.  All the planters to the right and drapes have been removed, including the pet playing tower placed inside door and facing the side storm window.  The Court should also note the sun glare, making impossible to see inside the home.  The door faces the north-northeast.

This Court should note that there is no opening window in the front porch- that was another misleading and prejudicial question by the corrupt Passaic County prosecutor.  The prosecutors obviously wanted to mislead and lie to the grand jury by stating that the defendant was pointing a weapon outside a window, something that the two sheriff employees never wrote in their reports, as no window was involved.  In fact, Lucas never testified or wrote that the defendant was pointing a weapon outside a window.  The corrupt prosecutor Walter Dewey elicited this statement from D’Agostino only.  Certainly this is a fraudulent and misleading question/statement that will most certainly damage the State’s “case” (the State never had any case, they just made this up as they were going along;  we now know that no “shotgun” was ever found, and no “metal ammunition box was ever found”, and no “bomb” was ever found.  So these corrupt liars made up a story to tell the grand jury and the public to justify their wrongful actions.)
As the defendant has stated before, both the wooden door and the storm door were closed; the defendant locked the main door with a deadbolt, as always does, because he lived in a remote and wooded area of Wayne and he was always afraid for his security.  Since he has a legal background (he was studying for the final exams of the final year of law school during that week), he knew that if he left the door open (or any window), then he would have been consenting to an entry inside the home by the Passaic County employees.  There is no way on earth that he would have left the door open and the computer records show that he was in his office doing his business and sending emails- none of that information was allowed by the corrupt prosecutors to be submitted to the grand jury.
Here is another example of the fraudulent tactics of the Passaic County prosecutor to lie and mislead the grand jury:
Count 4 charges that the defendant “did recklessly create a risk of widespread injury or damage by purposely or knowingly barricading himself into 687 Indian Road . . . while armed with a deadly weapon, contrary to the provisions of N.J.S. 2C:17-2c.” (Da4; emphasis supplied).
N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2c provides, in pertinent part:
A person who recklessly creates a risk of widespread injury or damage commits a crime of the fourth degree, even if no such injury or damage occurs.
N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2e provides: “For purposes of this section, widespread injury or damage means serious bodily injury to five or more people or damage to five or more habitations or to a building which would normally have contained 25 or more persons at the time of the offense.”
It is important to note here that the defendant’s home is in an isolated area of Wayne, New Jersey (see aerial map of the property, dated October 2015, showing a heavily wooded area with less than two nearby homes within a 100 feet distance.  This home is post-seizure and the new occupant did a significant amount of wood clearing, all around the property).  

There are no homes neighboring to the north.  There is only one home neighboring to the east (about 50 feet away) where there was only one woman present and another to the west (about 100 feet away) where the owners were at work.  Thus, this charge is also fraudulent, as less than five people and less than five habitations were within 100 feet from defendant’s home.  Another example of the prosecutorial misconduct faced by the defendant.
This obviously corrupt prosecutor also refused to allow Dr. Stephanatos to testify to the grand jury to present facts about the property.  He refused to do so and presented numerous lies and fabrications and perjured testimony, refused to provide the defense of the dwelling (the Castle Doctrine) statutory defense, the defense of his business (Metropolitan Environmental Services) that was a legal tenant of the premises, and other clearly exculpatory evidence.