Howell Man Facing Armed Robbery Charges
The Howell Police Department has reported that the have apprehended and charged the nineteen (19) year old township resident who is alleged to have terrorized several women over the last couple weeks. The individual was formally charged with among other things, armed robbery, staking, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose. It is alleged that he would seek out his victims at local establishments, including ShopRite and then follow them home with the intent to eventually robbing them. In fact, one of the incidents was actually caught on a home surveillance system. In the video, it shows the Defendant, dressed in all back and a sky mask, waiting outside his vehicle, lurking, as the women unpacked her groceries. However, the Defendant was eventually scared off when the women’s rottweiler exited the house. During another incident, a women noticed that she was being followed as she was driving home from a store in Howell Township. After the victim noticed that the Defendant’s van was still following her after her intentional an unnecessary turns, she pulled over and contacted her father. During this incident, it wasn’t until the father arrived and attempted to confront the Defendant, who had actually pulled over as well, that the Defendant fled the scene. Based on the evidence obtained throughout both investigations, the police department was able to identify the Defendant and make an arrest. It is believed that the Defendant was stalking other women as they shopped at the Freehold Raceway Mall.
Following the Defendant’s arrest, he was taken to the Monmouth County Jail, where he most likely is pending a Detention Hearing. During this hearing the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office will be seeking to convince a judge that the Defendant must be detained, pretrial, without bail. If convicted on the armed robbery charge alone, the Defendant will be facing up to twenty (20) years in a State Prison. To make matters worse, the sentence would be subject to the No Early Release Act, which basically requires a Defendant to serve at least 85% of their sentence before they can become eligible for parole.
Armed Robbery Charges in New Jersey
Robbery is basically a theft offense that involves some form of force. Typically, robbery is a second degree felony offense. However, pursuant to NJSA 2C:15-1, a robbery charge will be elevated to armed robbery, a crime of the first degree, if the Defendant “attempts to kill anyone, or purposely inflicts or attempts to inflict serious bodily injury, or is armed with, or uses or threatens the immediate use of a deadly weapon.” The difference between a first and a second degree robbery charge in New Jersey can be up to fifteen years in prison. It is important to note here, that the charges will be elevated simply by the Defendant threatening the immediate use of a deadly weapon. In other words, the Defendant does not need to even possess the weapon for the charges to be elevated. (i.e. a note that you have a bomb) For more information on robbery charges in Monmouth County please checkout our New Jersey Robbery practice area.
Monmouth County NJ Robbery Defense Lawyer
If you have been accused of a serious felony offense like aggravated assault, armed robbery, burglary, heroin distribution, terroristic threats or endangering the welfare of a child, the Keith Oliver Criminal Law can help. Our office serves all of Monmouth County, including towns like Howell, Manalapan, Freehold, Middletown, Holmdel, Belmar, Manasquan, Asbury Park, Wall Township and Ocean Township. If you would like to set up a free initial consultation today, then please contact our office at 732.858.6959 and one of our lawyers would be glad to go over your options with you. As always, our initial consultations are free of costs, so if you have any questions whatsoever, please do not hesitate to call.
Alleged stalker followed women home from stores, and cops want to know how many.
