JWMS Student, Mother Report Stalker, Averting Potentially Serious Situation

Matthew Hersh

When a 13-year-old John Witherspoon Middle School student came home last week to tell her mother that she thought someone was following her in his car, her mother told her to be wary, get the license plate number, but that there was probably nothing to worry about.

Within three days, Princeton Township Police had arrested a man, charging him with stalking. The man, Kevin Waguespack, 39, of Toms River, was actually apprehended by two Princeton Borough Patrol Officers Chris Nash and Luis Navas after a community-wide report was sent out to the departments based on the complaints supplied by the young student.

Mr. Waguespack was subsequently arrested by investigating Det. Annette Henderson last Thursday after being taken down to Township Hall.

The complaints to the Township Police Department mobilized a comprehensive effort between the Princeton Regional School District, the PTO, and Princeton Borough, to capture the man who had been stalking the youth for several days. The effort averted what could have been a potentially serious situation, according to Det. Sgt. Ernie Silagyi, who, along with Det. Henderson, was the other investigating officer on the case.

"They were the best, they did everything right," said the girl's mother of the investigating officers. Her name and her daughter's name have been withheld on the mother's request. "I felt so good about the way Det. Henderson handled the whole thing. She took my daughter seriously." And rightfully so. Township Police were notified of several incidents involving a suspicious vehicle that had been seen driving around the middle school for several days. The driver of the vehicle, a gray Kia Rio, was seen following the student around and was described by the student as a balding, white male in his 40s, later identified as Mr. Waguespack.

Not much information has been released on Mr. Waguespack's history except that it was determined that he had been in the Princeton area for business, and that there were reasons involving his past as to why warning signs flashed when Det. Henderson did some background research.

Det. Sgt. Silagyi could only say that Township Police continued their investigation on merits based on the background check. Which was more than enough for the girl's mother. The next day, students throughout the school district were sent home with a notice informing parents of this complaint and to keep up their watch.

"I got so freaked out, I was scared to death," the mother said. "The very next day, I called the police and they told me that they were 'very concerned' and were taking it 'very seriously'." The student is okay, according to her mother, but is still shaken after the ordeal. But ultimately, her mother praised the police's attentiveness and the quick thinking by her daughter: "That guy stalked the wrong kid in the wrong town."

Det. Sgt. Silagyi emphasized that if there is any situation where a student feels uncomfortable he or she should tell parents, the school, or the police immediately. Township Police also have programs in place to help students keep alert for these types of situations. He mentioned the Adopt-a-Cop program in the elementary schools, and the Adopt-a-School program where officers working during the day visit schools, allowing the police to get to know the school staff and vice-versa.

"Sometimes people think they're bothering the police and don't call us, but we take everything seriously until proven otherwise," Det. Sgt. Silagyi said.

Mr. Waguespack was charged with a fourth degree crime and faces up to $10,000 in fines and 18 months in jail. He will be tried in Mercer County Court.