Sussex County reports decline in fatal overdoses, increase in extreme risk protection orders in 2025
NEWTON, N.J. (Sussex County) — Fatal drug overdoses continued to decline in Sussex County in 2025, while authorities reported an increase in temporary extreme risk protection orders and continued concerns involving fentanyl, cybercrime and financial scams, according to the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office’s newly released annual report.
The 38-page report outlines criminal investigations, prosecutions, public safety initiatives and victim assistance services conducted throughout 2025.
According to the report, Sussex County recorded 15 fatal overdoses in 2025, down from 21 in 2024 and 27 in 2023. Prosecutors noted that three of the 15 overdose deaths in 2025 were determined to be suicides rather than accidental deaths.
Despite the decline, the prosecutor’s office identified fentanyl as the most prevalent and dangerous controlled substance involved in possession and distribution offenses in the county.
The report states that heroin has largely disappeared from the local illegal drug supply, with nearly every suspected heroin packet tested in recent years containing fentanyl instead. Prosecutors also reported that cocaine samples, including powder and crack cocaine, have consistently tested positive for fentanyl.
The office attributed the downward trend in fatal overdoses in part to the widespread availability and use of Narcan, along with efforts by addiction recovery and prevention organizations.
The county’s Guns, Gangs and Narcotics Task Force conducted eight major investigations in 2025, including a months-long investigation with Sparta Township police into alleged unlawful retail marijuana sales.
That investigation resulted in the seizure of more than 20 pounds of marijuana, drug manufacturing equipment, a handgun, a luxury SUV and more than $250,000 in cash. The case remained pending when the report was prepared.
Major crimes and suspicious activity
The prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit responded to 93 incidents during 2025, including 42 suspicious deaths. Those deaths included 15 overdoses, 10 suicides, four motor vehicle crash fatalities, one drowning, two children, two other accidental deaths and eight deaths attributed to natural or medical causes.
The unit also responded to 11 suspicious fire investigations, one stabbing and one drive-by shooting.
Prosecutors initiated one murder case, 70 non-domestic aggravated assault cases, 10 vehicular assault cases, one aggravated arson case and one robbery case during the year.
The report identified 30 prosecutions involving aggravated assaults on law enforcement officers, down from 38 in 2024. Four prosecutions involved aggravated assaults on health care workers, unchanged from the previous year.
Sussex County also experienced a decline in suspicious activity reports submitted to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
The number dropped from 33 in 2024 to 16 in 2025, with most reports involving schools or educational facilities and expressed or implied threats.
Cybercrime, child protection and domestic violence
The prosecutor’s High-Tech Crimes Unit investigated approximately 133 new cases in 2025, processed 27.26 terabytes of digital evidence and made 15 arrests.
The unit also received approximately 84 referrals from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and conducted 40 investigative visits known as knock-and-talk operations.
The report highlighted a joint investigation with the FBI involving a juvenile in Sussex County and alleged connections to UTTP, also known as YouTube Patrol Police, and the 764 group, an international sextortion network.
The prosecutor’s office said its investigators provided training to other counties and child advocacy centers concerning those groups.
Meanwhile, the Special Victims Unit investigated 76 sex crime cases and 10 child abuse cases in 2025. The unit also reviewed 89 referrals from the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency that were referred to other appropriate agencies.
Prosecutors reported no material increase in sex crimes or child abuse offenses during the year.
The Domestic Violence Unit maintained a consistently high caseload involving indictable offenses, family court matters and weapons-related cases. Approximately 71 domestic violence contempt cases were completed in the Family Division.
The report also documented 72 temporary extreme risk protection orders issued during 2025, an increase from previous years.
Those orders temporarily restrict access to firearms for individuals determined to pose an immediate danger of causing bodily injury to themselves or others.
According to prosecutors, the increase resulted in additional firearm seizures and created challenges involving evidence storage at the prosecutor’s office and local police departments.
Financial scams and other prosecutions
The Grand Jury and Trial Team Unit screened 382 cases in 2025, compared with 469 in 2024. Of those, 304 were resolved through an accusation or indictment, down from 380 the previous year.
The prosecutor’s office identified theft and financial scams as persistent problems, particularly schemes in which callers falsely claim that fraudulent activity has occurred on a victim’s bank account.
According to the report, scammers persuade victims to accept assistance recovering their money before draining their accounts.
Prosecutors said they secured restitution for victims in some of those cases, including investigations involving check fraud and check washing.
The office also reported 70 bias incidents in Sussex County during 2025. One bias intimidation charge was filed but later dismissed after authorities determined it had been improperly charged.
The prosecutor’s Juvenile Unit handled 51 juvenile prosecutions, while the Megan’s Law Unit maintained approximately 195 active registrants in the county.
Internal affairs and victim assistance
The prosecutor’s office completed 26 internal affairs investigations during 2025.
The report highlighted two disciplinary matters brought to a conclusion during the year. One involved an officer who failed to properly investigate a welfare check involving an unresponsive motorist on Route 23. That officer was terminated.
The other involved an officer who fell asleep while on duty and received a 20-day suspension without pay.
The Office of Victim Witness Advocacy assisted 1,729 crime victims in 2025, including victims of domestic violence, assault and theft.
According to the report, 24% of those assisted were victims of domestic violence, 20% were assault victims and 10% were theft victims.
The office provided more than 1,600 services, including case updates, referrals, court accompaniment and restitution assistance.
The report also noted eight Recovery Court graduations, 13 Mental Health Court admissions and one Mental Health Court graduation during 2025.
Public safety programs expand
The prosecutor’s office continued several community programs focused on substance abuse prevention, school safety and mental health.
Through Operation Helping Hand and the Community Law Enforcement Addiction Recovery program, law enforcement officers and recovery specialists conducted outreach to individuals struggling with addiction and connected them with treatment resources.
The county also expanded its ARRIVE Together program in 2025 to include all 11 municipal police departments and the New Jersey State Police.
The program pairs law enforcement with mental health professionals to improve responses to people experiencing mental or behavioral health emergencies.
The prosecutor’s office also hosted two in-person active shooter training sessions for law enforcement and participated in two school reunification drills.
Sussex County Prosecutor Daniel M. Perez, who began his term Feb. 2, 2026, introduced the annual report by recognizing the work of prosecutors, investigators, support personnel, law enforcement agencies and community partners.
The report provides a summary of the office’s activities during 2025, before Perez took office.
The full 2025 annual report is available through the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office website.
