Story by Ethan
On September 4th, 2025, the arrests of Joshua Makuta and Jorel Rivera, ages 23 and 20, were announced by Warren County Acting Prosecutor Jessica L. Cardone. Joshua Makuta was charged with second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (specifically a handgun) Without Obtaining a Permit, fourth-degree Possession of Hollow Nose or Dum-Dum Bullets, and fourth-degree Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine. Jorel Rivera was charged with second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (specifically a handgun) Without Obtaining a Permit and second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. The arrest and charges against Joshua Makuta and Jorel Rivera were a result of an investigation handled by the Phillipsburg Police Department, Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Lopatcong, Greenwich, and Pohatcong Township Police Departments.
According to the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office, at approximately 1:40 p.m. on August 31st, 2025, reports of shots fired were made on 3000 Rand Boulevard. Responding officers observed a fleeing vehicle and noted a description of it, and no injuries were reported on the scene. Detectives managed to locate the suspected vehicle and stop it near the Lopatcong Township Police Department. Joshua Makuta and Jorel Rivera were occupying the vehicle, both being arrested for firearms offenses.
The Warren County Prosecutor’s Office stated that the charges against Joshua Makuta and Jorel Rivera are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
