Reporter

Carl Hessler Jr.

Carl Hessler Jr. grew up in Reading, Pa. and began his career as a reporter at The Mercury. Currently, he is the crime and courts reporter in Montgomery County for MediaNews Group's Philadelphia cluster.

The ex-girlfriend of a man fatally shot in Norristown during an alleged robbery by four others admitted to a role in the deadly incident, specifically that she told one of the robbers that the victim had recently won $5,000 while gambling and provided information about his whereabouts on the night he was killed.

Crime and Public Safety |
Ex-girlfriend of Norristown robbery, murder victim admits helping to ‘set up’ the crime

June 21, 2024 at 3:56 p.m.

The ex-girlfriend of a man fatally shot in Norristown during an alleged robbery by four others admitted to a role in the deadly incident, specifically that she told one of...

An East Norriton Township woman will head to prison next month after she admitted to causing the death of her 14-month-old son when she crashed her minivan into a SEPTA bus while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and while her child was not properly restrained.

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Crime and Public Safety |
East Norriton woman admits to vehicular homicide while DUI in crash that killed her 14-month-old son

June 21, 2024 at 12:37 p.m.

An East Norriton Township woman will head to prison next month after she admitted to causing the death of her 14-month-old son when she crashed her minivan into a SEPTA...

A Bucks County man who authorities said had indecent contact with three underage girls in Rockledge and Philadelphia will spend up to six years in prison.

Ivyland man sent to prison for indecent assault of underage girls in Rockledge

June 20, 2024 at 2:48 p.m.

A Bucks County man who authorities said had indecent contact with three underage girls in Rockledge and Philadelphia will spend up to six years in prison.

A Philadelphia man admitted that he kidnapped and robbed another man at gunpoint after he approached the victim who was sitting in his car during a work break outside an Upper Moreland Township business.

Crime and Public Safety |
Man admits to kidnapping, robbing man at gunpoint in Upper Moreland

June 20, 2024 at 2:07 p.m.

A Philadelphia man admitted that he kidnapped and robbed another man at gunpoint after he approached the victim who was sitting in his car during a work break outside an...

A Lower Providence Township man was sent to prison on charges he attempted to meet who he believed was an underage girl for sex in Conshohocken but in reality was an undercover detective with whom he communicated via a social media app.

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Crime and Public Safety |
Lower Providence man draws prison for trying to meet underage girl for sex

June 19, 2024 at 2:04 p.m.

A Lower Providence Township man was sent to prison on charges he attempted to meet who he believed was an underage girl for sex in Conshohocken but in reality was...

A Philadelphia teenager accused of the gunshot slaying of a Pottstown man during a botched robbery attempt of another male is fighting prosecutors’ plans to show a jury a slow speed version of a video surveillance recording that captured a portion of the violence.

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Teen accused in Pottstown gunshot slaying seeks to block video evidence from trial

June 19, 2024 at 12:07 p.m.

A Philadelphia teenager accused of the gunshot slaying of a Pottstown man during a botched robbery attempt of another male is fighting prosecutors’ plans to show a jury a slow...

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Crime and Public Safety |
Trio accused in robbery and fatal shooting in Norristown seek to block jury from seeing photos

June 18, 2024 at 3:42 p.m.

Montgomery County prosecutors want to show a jury crime scene and autopsy photographs that depict the robbery and fatal shooting of a man in Norristown when three men stand trial...

An Elkins Park man is headed to prison on gun and drug charges after leading state police on a high-speed pursuit in Pottstown and Lower Pottsgrove Township.

Crime and Public Safety |
Gun, drug charges land Elkins Park man in prison after high-speed chase in Pottstown

June 18, 2024 at 3:16 p.m.

An Elkins Park man is headed to prison on gun and drug charges after leading state police on a high-speed pursuit in Pottstown and Lower Pottsgrove Township.

A New Jersey man admitted he tried to meet who he believed was an underage girl for sex in Plymouth Township but unbeknownst to him he was communicating with an undercover state agent conducting internet investigations of people committing crimes against children.

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N.J. man admits trying to meet underage girl in Plymouth for sex

June 17, 2024 at 2:02 p.m.

A New Jersey man admitted he tried to meet who he believed was an underage girl for sex in Plymouth Township but unbeknownst to him he was communicating with an...

A former Pottstown man admitted to an animal neglect charge after authorities said he abandoned his pet cat when he moved from his borough residence to Plymouth Township, resulting in the cat’s starvation and having to be euthanized.

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Crime and Public Safety |
Ex-Pottstown man admits to neglecting cat that starved and was euthanized

June 17, 2024 at 9:24 p.m.

A former Pottstown man admitted to an animal neglect charge after authorities said he abandoned his pet cat when he moved from his borough residence to Plymouth Township, resulting in...

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