Newark New Jersey Theft SuspectA Newark NJ man will probably be going to state prison after he was convicted of robbing an off-duty Essex County Sheriff’s officer.

The theft incident occurred on May 6, 2014. According to Essex County prosecutors, the suspect and another man committed the robbery while the victim, a female sheriff’s officer, and her boyfriend were in West Side Park in Newark, New Jersey.

The suspect allegedly held a handgun while he committed the robbery. When the suspect’s co-conspirator reportedly recognized the victim as a police officer, the suspects allegedly abandoned the robbery.

The Essex County Sheriff’s officer subsequently contacted local law enforcement, which sent police officers to the scene to investigate. Just minutes later, police located the suspect walking along Avon Avenue and Jelliff Avenue in Newark, NJ.

The suspect is a 24-year-old male who lives in Newark, New Jersey. He was placed under arrest and charged with several criminal offenses, including armed robbery and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The suspect recently made an appearance in Essex County Superior Court, located in Newark, so that he could stand trial on the criminal charges. The two-week trial concluded with the jury finding the defendant guilty of armed robbery.

The defendant will come back to Essex County Superior Court in June for a formal sentencing hearing. Since theft with a deadly weapon like a handgun is classified as a first degree crime, the suspect faces a potential sentence of 10-20 years in NJ State Prison.

For further information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Man Convicted of Trying to Rob Sheriff’s Officer in Newark.”