Updated posted by Roslyn Campbell 1 month ago
Keith and I can't thank all...
Keith and I can't thank all of you enough for your continued support. Right now Keith is trying to put his life back together as we sit and wait to see if he will be indicted or if they will drop the charges. Last week Keith was invited to speak on the Glenn Beck show about his arrest. Here is the YouTube link http://youtu.be/2j81g234RTA . The interview starts at 37 min into the show. Thanks again!
Updated posted by Roslyn Campbell 2 months ago
Here is the official press release...
Here is the official press release from Evan Nappen and Associates:
Jersey City Man Released ROR After 30 Days in Jail for Mere Possession of Firearms in His Home;
Bail Originally Set at Unattainable $75,000.
HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY -- At approximately 10pm on Thursday night, January 24, 2013, 33-year-old Keith Pantaleon of Jersey City, New Jersey, was in the bedroom of his apartment watching television after a full day’s work – when he heard thumping noises coming from his living room.
Believing that his residence may be being broken into, he grabbed his soft-bound Day Planner case (which also held a lawfully purchased handgun), and cracked open his bedroom door to investigate.
In the center of his living room, he saw a man dressed entirely in dark clothing who had his back towards him. He cracked open his door slightly further and saw near the entrance to his apartment a police officer, his landlord, and an EMT worker.
When the man dressed in dark clothing in the middle of his living room turned around, he saw it was another police officer.
One of the officers immediately ordered Pantaleon to come out of his bedroom. Pantaleon tossed his unopened Day Planner case onto his bed. As he went to close his bedroom door behind him, one of the officers pushed him into his living room. The officer then ordered Pantaleon to face a corner of his living room and handcuffed him. One of the officers allegedly threatened Pantaleon that if he had pulled out a firearm, he would have shot him. Officers asked if Pantaleon owned any firearms. To which, he did not reply.
As one of the officers watched Pantaleon (who remained in custody in Pantaleon’s living room), the other officer warrantlessly searched Pantaleon’s bedroom – which including opening cabinets and his Day Planner case – then demanded that Pantaleon provide the PIN# combination to his safe, which the officer proceeded to open and search.
After finding the handgun in Pantaleon’s Day Planner, the officer asked him if he possessed any more firearms. To which, Pantaleon indicated that he had a rifle on a top shelf in a box.
Officers claim that they announced their presence, yet at no time did Pantaleon hear officers announce their presence in his home. At no time during the home invasion was Pantaleon read his Miranda rights. At no time did Pantaleon grant permission for anyone to enter his apartment without his permission, no less police officers without a warrant.
On the night in question, Pantaleon’s upstairs neighbor allegedly complained to police about the landlord providing insufficient heat. The boiler for the apartment building is adjacent to the kitchen area of Pantaleon’s residence. Police apparently insisted that the landlord open Pantaleon’s residence on their behalf despite the extremely late hour and lack of consent by Pantaleon.
Officers then took Pantaleon to police headquarters, where, after further questioning, he was charged with unlawful possession of: two handguns, a rifle, an “assault rifle,” a large capacity magazine, and certain ammunition.
In New Jersey, permits to purchase firearms are not required for possession of firearms within one’s home. Possession of firearms within one’s residence is exempted under N.J.S. 2C:39-6e, as well as protected under the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings on the Second Amendment in D.C. v. Heller and Chicago v. McDonald, and the ruling in the recently decided New Jersey Appellate Division matter, IMO of the Application for a New Jersey Permit to Carry a Handgun by Richard Pantano, A-1682-11T1 (February 22, 2013).
Pursuant to statute at issue, the ammunition in question is legal to possess since New Jersey’s ammunition prohibition only applies to handgun ammunition and the ammunition at issue is specifically designed for use in a rifle. The rifle at issue was allegedly an AR-15, one of the most commonly possessed type of rifle in America.
Pantaleon lawfully purchased his firearms as a prior resident of Pennsylvania. He also possesses permits to carry firearms from Nevada and Florida. Pantaleon has no prior criminal convictions and no mental health history. He is not accused of misusing or threatening to use any firearms. No unlawful purpose for said possessions has been alleged.
Despite the above, his bail was set at $75,000.00 cash or bond, which the 33-year-old did not have. A friend of Pantaleon’s, however, brought awareness of his matter on the Internet, which raised funds to hire the law firm of Evan F. Nappen, Attorney at Law PC to represent.
Louis P. Nappen, Esq. of the Nappen Law Firm immediately filed a Motion for Bail Reduction, which, after a hearing on February 27, resulted in Pantaleon being released on his own recognizance. Pantaleon had been incarcerated for over one month, since night of January 24.
Louis Nappen stated, “It is apparent that police violated Mr. Pantaleon’s rights protecting possession of firearms within one’s home, his 5th and 6th Amendment rights to remain silent and to be provided with an attorney before questioning and, most egregiously, his 4th Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.”
Jersey City Police publicly smeared Pantaleon’s reputation with comparisons to Adam Lanza and by publication of a warning letter to local schools. See www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2013/01/jersey_city_police_say_man_had.html .
Pantaleon was an IT Specialist for a highly respectable bank, a position he proudly garnered last year, and was recently noted for promotion.
He presently requires funding to proceed with his defense. If you would like to contribute to Pantaleon’s cause, please contact www.gofundme.com/Stand4Keith .
Updated posted by Roslyn Campbell 2 months ago
FREE!!!!!At approx 12:20am, after 4 1/2...
FREE!!!!!At approx 12:20am, after 4 1/2 hrs of processing, Keith was FINALLY released from Hudson County Correctional Center on an ROR (released on his own recognisance) bail argued & won by attorney Lou Nappen of Evan Nappen & Associates. Thanks to all of your support & donations we were able to retain the Nappens & cover the additional bails to get him out! Keith will continue to work with the Nappens as they move forward on his case to eventually clear his name of all wrong doing. All the funds that have been contributed have been and will continue to go towards Keith's legal fees and is very much appreciated (we still owe the Nappens much much more) !THANK U THANK U THANK U!!!
Created by Roslyn Campbell on February 2, 2013
" not only will I sue, I will make sure that it is never possible for something like this to happen in NJ ever again." part of a message from Keith sent 2/6/2013 from Hudson County Correctional Center where he is being wrongfully detained.
This is my friend Keith who was wrongfully arrested in his home without warrant or probable cause by the NJ Police department!!!
“The charges are unlawful
possession of my 2 handguns, unlawful possession of my rifle, unlawful
possession of my ammo and felony possession of an assault rifle. The cops claimed the third
floor tenant called because he did not have heat in his apt, and the boiler
just happened to be in my apartment. I don't know what the landlord told him.
They had no warrant nor did they have my consent.They
did not Mirandize me until after 15 hours of no sleep, no food and no water.”
They did not ask him about his receipts, or legality, they're weren't even let into the apartment by him or with his knowledge WHILE HE WAS AT HOME!!!! They didn't knock, the landlord just let the police walk in. The police searched his room when they suspected he was hiding something, found his weapon, and arrested him. As of last night he was moved into the inmate population and now, this law abiding citizen who has never been to jail, did everything he was supposed to do growing up, staying out of trouble, going to college, protesting and speaking out for our Civil Rights and liberties, acquiring and maintaining a professional career in computers at a lucrative establishment, and giving back to the community by tutoring kids and sharing his theatrical talents, now sits among hardened criminals, repeat offenders who have done nothing but take away from society. The very population whom he has worked so hard to make sure we keep our rights to bear arms to protect ourselves from, is now the community that surrounds him. WE MUST GET HIM OUT OF THERE!!!! He needs an attorney fast and he needs bail or bond ($75,000 or 10% of that). Please donate whatever, whenever, and as often as you can to help us meet our goal. Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and support.
Roslyn
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I have also forwarded this story and webpages regarding this story to the NRA in hopes of support.
posted by Alexander Frye 1 month ago
HCPO (Hudson County Prosecutor's Office) - (201) 795-6400 JCPD (Jersey City Department of Police) - (201) 547-5300 Just for the sake of anyone looking to provide some constructive feedback regarding oversight, rule of law, discretion, and conscience.
posted by Jimmy Cavoli 2 months ago
We are with you Keith! Stand up for your rights!
posted by Bryan Hardie 2 months ago
Wow...and Chris Christie is not beating down the doors at the police station to personally fire those officers? What is wrong with this country anymore?
posted by Bba Hunter 2 months ago
I would pack my bags and move from NJ to Texas as fast as I could.
posted by William Martin 2 months ago
I have submitted your story to the NRA. But don't hesitate to contact them yourself.
posted by David Daly 2 months ago
As an ex-LEO, I see this as a clear violation of the 4th Amendment. There wasn't probable cause to search, there wasn't a search warrant issued, there were no signs of anything that needed immediate action by law enforcement. IMHO (and I am not a lawyer), you have a very actionable cause. Sue their as**es for all they are worth.
posted by David Daly 2 months ago
Also contact your local gun rights groups such as (from my Google search) The New Jersey Coallition for Self-Defense www.njcsd.org or other gun-rights groups.
posted by David Daly 2 months ago
Contact the NRA-ILA at https://www.nraila.org/secure/ contact-us.aspx They may want to get involved on your behalf. That's why I not only joined, but have upgraded to Life member.
posted by David Daly 2 months ago
PLEASE DONATE TODAY,TOMORROW, WHENEVER AND WHATEVER YOU CAN! THANKS!!!!
posted by Roslyn Campbell 3 months ago