The Warren Hills Regional High School debate team took first place in the recent New Jersey State Bar Foundation Mock Trial County Competition.

Both the Prosecution Team and the Defense Team won their cases via Zoom to advance to the Regional Competition, scheduled for Feb. 28. This will also be held via Zoom.

The team consists of seniors Tom Finnegan and Yuliana Pereginets who counseled their witnesses, senior Louis Spann and juniors Hanora Finnegan and Sam Wetenhall; and seniors Destiny Sheppard and Precious Thiirah, who counseled their witnesses; and seniors Bintou Fofana, Demont Summers and junior Allison Slovak.

Mock Trial coaches for the debate team are advisor Penny Giamoni and Warren County Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Shelton.

In this year’s criminal case, the defendant, a 20-year-old computer whiz, is accused of conspiracy to receive and sell stolen goods from vendors on the dark web, using cryptocurrency to avoid detection.

Photo: Standing (left to right): Dermont Summers, Allison Slovak, Louis Spann, Bintou Fofana, Hanora Finnegan; Seated (left to right): Destiny Sheppard, Precious Thiirah, Yuliana Pereginets, Tom Finnegan.