Karl Weckstrom of Park Ridge and Michele Weckstrom of Emerson Charged With Witness Tampering and Disobeying a Judicial Order

Karl Weckstrom of Park Ridge and Michele Weckstrom of Emerson Charged With Witness Tampering and Disobeying a Judicial Order

Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrests of KARL M. WECKSTROM of 56 Oak Avenue, Park Ridge, New Jersey, and MICHELE L. WECKSTROM of 45 Hasbrouck Avenue, Emerson, New Jersey. Karl M. WECKSTROM was arrested on charges of Witness Tampering and Disobeying a Judicial Order. His wife, Michele L. WECKSTROM was arrested on charges of Witness Tampering, Hindering Prosecution and Disobeying a Judicial Order.

The arrests came about as the result of joint investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit under the direction of Chief Carmen MARTINO and the Emerson Police Department under the direction of Chief Donald ROSSI.


On Friday, October 25, 2013, Karl M. Weckstrom was arrested by detectives of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Victims Unit and the Emerson Police Department, and charged with one (1) count of Aggravated Sexual Assault and one (1) count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

On Thursday, February 11, 2016, detectives of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Victims Unit were advised that the victim in the case for which Karl M. WECKSTROM was arrested on October 25, 2013, reported receiving communications from Mr. WECKSTROM, in violation of a court order of no contact. Additionally, it was reported that Michele L. WECKSTROM had tampered with evidence by deleting the communications.

The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Special Victims Unit notified the Emerson Police Department and a joint investigation ensued. As a result of the investigation, Karl M. WECKSTROM and Michele L. WECKSTROM were arrested at their respective residences on Friday, February 12, 2016.

Michele WeckstromKarl M. WECKSTROM was charged with one (1) count of Witness Tampering (2C:28-5A), a 4th degree crime, and one (1) count of Disobeying a Judicial Order (2C:29-9A), a 4th degree crime.

Michele L. WECKSTROM was charged with one (1) count of Hindering Prosecution (2C:29-3A(3)), a 3rd degree crime, one (1) count of Witness Tampering (2C:28-5A), a 4th degree crime, and one (1) count of Disobeying a Judicial Order (2C:29-9A), a 4th degree crime.

The Honorable Susan J. Steele, P.J.Cr. of Bergen County ordered both defendants held without bail. Both defendants were remanded to the Bergen County Jail.

Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and would also like to thank the Emerson Police Department and the Park Ridge Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.