High Point man charged with 14 felonies connected to case with missing Pennsylvania teen
High Point man charged with 14 felonies connected to case with missing Pennsylvania teen
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COMING UP. A HIGH POINT MAN FACING 20 CHARGES INCLUDING KIDNAPING AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING AFTER HE WAS FOUND WITH A MISSING PENNSYLVANIA TEENAGER THIS WEEK, HE FACED A JUDGE FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS AFTERNOON. OUR SARAH SOWERS WAS ALSO IN COURT TODAY FOR THAT EMOTIONAL HEARING. SHE JOINS US LIVE TONIGHT. SARAH, WHAT DID THE SUSPECT SAY TO THE JUDGE? YEAH, JOSEPH ROSSOMANDO APPEARED IN COURT VIRTUALLY TODAY. HE TRIED TO SPEAK TO THE JUDGE BRIEFLY, SAYING JUST FOUR WORDS. THIS IS A MISTAKE. ON SCREEN, WE COULD SEE 32 YEAR OLD JOSEPH ROSSOMANDO CRYING AND SHAKING HIS HEAD WHILE A JUDGE LISTED HIS CHARGES. TODAY WE LEARNED 14 OF THE 20 CHARGES HE FACES ARE FELONIES. EACH OF THOSE CHARGES CARRIES THE POSSIBLE SENTENCE OF LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. IF CONVICTED. I’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW YOUR PAPERWORK. YOU’VE BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR TWO YEARS. IS THAT CORRECT, SIR? ALL RIGHT, SO I WILL FIND THAT YOU QUALIFY FOR COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL. COURT SERVICES TOLD THE JUDGE. ROSSOMANDO IS FROM NEW YORK AND LIVED IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR FIVE YEARS. HE SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN A HOME OWED BY HIS GRANDFATHER ALONG CRAVEN LANE IN THE BLAIR WOOD ESTATES NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE HE WAS ARRESTED. SPECIAL UNIT VICTIM DETECTIVES FOUND ROSSOMANDO WITH THE TEENAGER MONDAY AFTER RECEIVING A TIP THAT SHE MIGHT BE LIVING THERE, ACCORDING TO A WARRANT. THE TEEN HAD BEEN REPORTED MISSING IN REDDING, WHICH IS ABOUT AN HOUR NORTHWEST OF PHILADELPHIA. LAST JUNE, POLICE EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT AND SAY THEY FOUND CHILD -- AND SEIZED ELECTRONIC DEVICES. WE’LL LEAVE THE BOND ON HOLD AT THIS TIME BASED ON THE NATURE AND SEVERITY OF THE ALLEGATIONS PRESENT BEFORE THE COURT, THE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE COURT REGARDING YOUR RESIDENCE STATUS, THE FACT THAT YOU DO HAVE OUT-OF-STATE CONNECTIONS, THE COURT DOES HAVE TO FIND THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO LEAVE YOUR BOND AHOLD AT THIS TIME, AND ROSSOMANDO DOESN’T HAVE A PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORD HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA. INVESTIGATORS TELL US THE TEEN THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THIS INCIDENT IS RECEIVING RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY HAVE NOT TOLD US WHERE SHE IS LIVE IN HIGH POI
A High Point man is facing 20 charges — including kidnapping and human trafficking — after he was found with a missing Pennsylvania teenager this week. Joseph Rossomando appeared in court virtually for the first time Wednesday. He spoke to the judge briefly, saying, "This is a mistake." On screen, we could see the 32-year-old handcuffed, crying, and shaking his head while a judge listed his charges. WXII learned 14 of the 20 charges he faces are felonies. Each of those felony charges carries the possible sentence of life without parole if convicted. Court services told the judge Rossomando is from New York and lived in North Carolina for five years. He spent the last four years in a home owned by his grandfather along Treyburn Lane in the Blairwood Estates neighborhood, where he was arrested.Special unit victim detectives found Rossomando with a 15-year-old girl Monday after receiving a tip that she might be living there. According to a warrant, the teen had been reported missing last June in Reading, Pennsylvania, which is about an hour northwest of Philadelphia. Police told us they executed a search warrant and found child porn and seized electronic devices. Rossomando doesn't have a prior criminal record in the state of North Carolina or in other states, but due to the serious nature of the charges, the judge continued no bond. Investigators tell us the teen is receiving assistance and resources, but did not share where she is now.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereSubscribe to WXII's free YouTube channel hereKeep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We LoveTRENDING STORIES
Joseph Rossomando appeared in court virtually for the first time Wednesday. He spoke to the judge briefly, saying, "This is a mistake."
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On screen, we could see the 32-year-old handcuffed, crying, and shaking his head while a judge listed his charges. WXII learned 14 of the 20 charges he faces are felonies. Each of those felony charges carries the possible sentence of life without parole if convicted.
Court services told the judge Rossomando is from New York and lived in North Carolina for five years. He spent the last four years in a home owned by his grandfather along Treyburn Lane in the Blairwood Estates neighborhood, where he was arrested.
Special unit victim detectives found Rossomando with a 15-year-old girl Monday after receiving a tip that she might be living there. According to a warrant, the teen had been reported missing last June in Reading, Pennsylvania, which is about an hour northwest of Philadelphia.
Police told us they executed a search warrant and found child porn and seized electronic devices.
Rossomando doesn't have a prior criminal record in the state of North Carolina or in other states, but due to the serious nature of the charges, the judge continued no bond. Investigators tell us the teen is receiving assistance and resources, but did not share where she is now.