Welcome to Arrest Stories. A seventy-two-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested by U.S. Marshals for allegedly stalking and harassing New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill with sexually explicit messages during her gubernatorial campaign. Here's what may have happened.
Stephen M. Cilurso of Aldan, Pennsylvania was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals on charges stemming from messages he allegedly left at then-Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill's Livingston office during October and November of last year. According to authorities, Cilurso left sexually explicit and derogatory messages for Sherrill while she was serving as a four-term congressmember and running for New Jersey governor.
New Jersey State Police issued a warrant for Cilurso's arrest on January twenty-second, charging him with stalking and harassment. He is currently being held pending extradition to Essex County. The charges were initially filed in Livingston Municipal Court because Sherrill's congressional office is located in Livingston, but were subsequently transferred to the Essex County Prosecutor.
Police did not disclose the specific contents of Cilurso's messages, but described them as vulgar, obscene and sexually explicit. Officials noted that when he gets into drinking, he has a dirty mouth.
This marks the second time Cilurso has faced charges for harassing elected officials. Five years ago in twenty twenty-one, he was charged with harassing Representative Madeleine Dean, allegedly leaving nineteen harassing and lewd voicemail messages for the congresswoman.
The arrest comes just days after Governor Sherrill was sworn into office earlier this month, becoming the Garden State's first female Democratic governor. Sherrill, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, defeated Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli by a double-digit margin, winning fifty-six point nine percent of the vote.
Cilurso remains in custody awaiting extradition proceedings to face the stalking and harassment charges in New Jersey.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.