Friday, March 8, 2013
Sean McNear pointed loaded BB gun at five-year-old's face, authorities claim.
Butler Councilman Sean McNear was indicted on child endangerment charges Thursday after authorities said he pointed a loaded BB gun at and threatened to shoot his five-year-old son. McNear was officially indicted on charges of one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child; one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose; and one count of fourth-degree aggravated assault, according to a release prepared by Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp and Butler Police Chief Ed Card. McNear, 45, was arrested in November 2011 after an affidavit claimed the boy told authorities McNear had pointed the gun in his face in his bedroom two years prior and in 2011, choked and punched him in the face with a …
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
McNear's attorney said no new court date has been established.
Butler Councilman Sean McNear appeared in court in Morristown on Monday again on child endangerment charges filed in November, but his attorney, Peter Gilbreth, said he is still discussing the details of the case with the prosecutor and that no action was taken. McNear has pled not guilty to charges that he allegedly choked, punched and pointed a loaded BB gun at his 7-year-old son over a two-year period. McNear was sworn in to the Butler Council last month. He first appeared in Butler Municipal Court on Dec. 14 before the case was referred to Morris County. Gilbreth said a new court date has not yet been set and that he is unsure how long the court process may take. "I think it's more in a long than short timeframe," he said. Morris …
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Mayor's appointments approved by Butler Council.
One new and one returning Butler councilman were sworn in during the borough's reorganization meeting Tuesday. The meeting, which was less than 30 minutes long, is held annually for appointments to committees to be made and borough officials to be administered the oath of office. New Councilman Sean McNear was sworn in first, followed by returning Councilman Ray Verdonik. McNear is currently awaiting a court hearing on charges of endangering the welfare of a child. (See our poll on whether McNear should have forfeited his seat here.) The council renewed appointments for Borough Attorney Martin F. Murphy, Borough Engineer Paul Darmofalski and Borough Auditors David Evans and Raymond Nisivoccia, all for one year terms. Butler Fire Chief Jim …
New councilman awaits hearing on child endangerment charges.
At Tuesday's Butler Council reorganization meeting, Sean McNear assumed his elected seat on the council. But while it was entirely unmentioned at the meeting, McNear is still awaiting a court hearing on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. McNear, 43, was arrested in November after officials alleged that over a two-year period, he choked, punched and pointed a loaded BB gun at his seven-year-old son's face. During his first court appearance in Butler Municipal Court on Dec. 14, the case was referred to the Morris County court where McNear's attorney, Peter Gilbreth, said he planned to plead not guilty. McNear attended a preliminary court hearing on Dec. 28 and is scheduled to …
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sean McNear to appear in Morris County Court Feb. 6.
Butler Councilman-elect Sean McNear is expected to be sworn in to office Tuesday, despite awaiting a court appearance for a judge to rule on charges he had allegedly endangered the welfare of his child. McNear was arrested in November when authorities said he allegedly choked and punched his seven-year-old son, in addition to pointing a loaded BB gun at him over the past two years. He was charged with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. McNear, 43, is one of two candidates who each ran uncontested for two open seats on the Butler Council. Butler Borough Clerk Mary O'Keefe said Thursday that she has not heard any indication that either …
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Municipal judge transfers case to county court.
After appearing for the first time in Butler Municipal Court Wednesday on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, Councilman-elect Sean McNear's case was transferred to the Morris County courthouse in Morristown where his attorney said he plans to enter a not guilty plea. McNear, 43, was arrested in November after authorities said he allegedly choked and punched his 7-year-old son, in addition to pointing a loaded BB gun at him over the past two years. McNear's attorney, Peter Gilbreth, said McNear wished to waive Judge John A. Paparazzo's reading the complaint in court Wednesday and the judge said since the complaints are indictable, the case would be transferred to the county court. McNear was given a date to appear on Dec. 28 at …
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Borough attorney said decision is up to McNear.
Despite being arrested on charges of allegedly punching and choking his 7-year-old son, Councilman-elect Sean McNear could still be sworn in and serve on the Butler Borough Council if he so chooses, according to Borough Attorney Robert Oostdyk. "Generally speaking, an arrest does not disqualify you from serving on either the council or planning board," Oostdyk said Tuesday, referencing state statute. Oostdyk said even if convicted, councilmembers are not required to forfeit their seat unless convicted of a select group of specific crimes. Oostdyk did not say what those crimes are, but in the case of McNear, he said it is too early to speculate if that will happen since he has not been convicted, nor has he indicated to the borough whether …
Monday, November 28, 2011
Butler's Sean McNear also accused of choking and punching 7-year-old boy.
Butler Councilman-elect Sean McNear faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child after authorities allege the 43-year-old choked, punched and pointed a loaded BB gun at his 7-year-old son over the past two years. According to an arrest affidavit on file with the Morris County Courthouse, McNear was charged on Wednesday with one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and one count of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. McNear was not immediately available for comment. McNear, who currently serves as an alternate on the Butler Planning Board and serves as chairman of the Butler Republican Club, ran uncontested earlier this month for a seat on the borough council. He was set to be sworn into…
Ariana Cohn-Sheehan
8:24 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Hi everyone, we've had to delete some comments on this thread. Commenting is intended for users to discuss the issue or topic related to the story, not for name-calling. Please refrain from such notes, but thank you to everyone contributing to the dialogue on the story itself. more ›