One severely burned by fireworks

One person suffered severe burns when fireworks set a homemade barge on fire in Lake Mohawk and three people are facing charges, police said.

The Byram Township Police Department responded to 58 Birch Parkway about 9:45 p.m. Monday, July 3 on a report of people who needed to be rescued from Lake Mohawk.

When the officers arrived, they saw a homemade barge on fire in the lake. Officers learned that the barge caught fire during a fireworks display on it.

Police said it appears that some fireworks ignited others, which then struck people standing on the barge. Several jumped into the water, then were picked up by a boat, which brought them to shore.

Lakeland Emergency Squad took the injured person to the hospital for treatment.

During an investigation, police found that some of the fireworks were commercial-grade.

Adam Perentin, 22, of Odgensburg and Justin Pretot, 28, and Jessica Whittam, 23, both of Byram Township, were charged with fourth-degree possession of dangerous fireworks, fourth-degree reckless endangerment and possession/use of prohibited fireworks.

They were released pending an appearance in Sussex County Superior Court.

DWI, open container charges

Two Newton residents were charged after a Byram Township police officer saw a vehicle failing to maintain its lane and failing to keep right while traveling on Route 206 about 3 a.m. Tuesday, July 4.

After the officer stopped the car and spoke to the driver, Ryan Mahedy, 24, the officer suspected him of being intoxicated.

Mahedy then performed several field tests, which he failed. He was arrested and taken to the police station, where he consented to and failed two breath tests, police said.

He was charged with driving while intoxicated, open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle, traffic on marked lanes, failure to keep right, careless driving and reckless driving.

The passenger, Kelsey Smith, 25, was charged with allowing an intoxicated person to operate a motor vehicle.

Both men are to appear in Andover-Joint Municipal Court.

Obscenities to minors

Benjamin Johnson, 23, of Newton was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and obscenities to minors, police said.

On May 12, the Byram Township Police Department received information regarding a man who sent sexually explicit photos and messages to a juvenile. The man, later identified as Johnson, then asked the juvenile to send sexually explicit photos to him, police said.

After an investigation, with the assistance of the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Johnson was charge. He was released pending an appearance in Sussex County Superior Court.