Hackettstown Man Charged For Death Threats To Senior: Prosecutor

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ — A Hackettstown man was taken to Warren County’s Correctional Center on Monday after the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office charged him for twice threatening the life of a Liberty House Apartments resident.

Warren County’s Prosecutor James Pfieffer announced on Wednesday that the Prosecutor’s Office officially charged Kevin Studley, 50, with making terroristic threats/threat to kill, as well unlawful possession of a weapon on Monday, stemming from two separate allegations, which were first reported to Independence Township Police on Aug. 2.

It was on that day, according to a news release from Pfeiffer, that responding officers from Independence were called to the apartments - an assisted living and retirement complex - where an unidentified man told them Studley had swung a knife at him, while making death threats.

A second unnamed man then came forward to police - a mutual friend of Studley's and the first man - who said Studley texted him that if the two men had dinner together as they were planning to, Studley reportedly told the second man he'd kill the first one.

Studley will remain in the Correctional Center as he awaits his detention hearing, Pfeiffer said.

Should Studley eventually be found guilty of the charges, Pfeiffer said making death threats is a third-degree crime, which can lead to a sentence of up to five years in state prison. Unlawful possession of a weapon is a lesser crime, which can have up to an 18-month state prison sentence.

If it ends up as a disorderly persons offense, Pfeiffer said Studley could face up to a year in the Warren County Correctional Center.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.