Woman Hired For Sex Robbed, Held At Gunpoint By Morris Co. Man: PD

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Two men were detained and charged with robbing a woman using imitation guns at a Sparta apartment after they had arranged to pay her for sex, police reported on Tuesday.

Jeremy Barcoski, 47, of Sparta, and Zarko Tamburin, 46, of Morristown, were both found to be “highly intoxicated” and under the influence of illicit drugs when the woman arrived at the apartment on Main Street, according to Sparta police.

The woman, whose identity has not been released, informed the police that, upon expressing her intention to leave, the two men forcibly took her bag and stole her money.

When she asked for it back, they got into an argument and one of them pulled out what the victim thought was a real gun, according to officials.

"When the handgun was pointed at her, the male stated that he was going to 'kill her.' She said that the other male came out of the kitchen holding a kitchen knife," police said.

Eventually, the men gave her back her bag but kept all of the money and let her leave the apartment.

The woman immediately called the Sparta Police Department to report that she had been robbed by two men who were armed with a gun and a knife.

Upon arrival, patrol officers located the victim, who was then taken to police headquarters for further questioning. Attempts to contact Barcoski and Tamburin, who were reportedly still inside the apartment, were met with a refusal to answer the door.

Patrol officers then contacted the detective bureau, which took over the investigation.

The Sparta Police Detective Bureau conducted additional investigations, and the New Jersey State Police TEAMS unit executed a warrant at the man's apartment.

The men were located inside the apartment and identified as Barcoski and Tamburin, police said. Both have since been charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, terroristic threats and weapons offenses.

During the search of the apartment, the following weapons were seized: one imitation revolver, one imitation semi-automatic-style handgun, two sets of throwing knives and one sword.

The police stated that the victim was unaware that imitation firearms were used during the robbery. She told the investigators that she believed she was faced with a real firearm and was afraid she would be harmed.