Newark NJ Prisoner EscapeA prisoner recently escaped from police custody at University Hospital in Newark, NJ.

This represented the second time in the past four months that an Essex County prisoner has managed to escape while receiving medical treatment at the Newark New Jersey hospital. In March 2015, a 46-year-old suspect allegedly walked out of a guarded hospital room and exited the hospital.

The most recent prisoner escape attempt happened during the early morning hours when the 34-year-old suspect left University Hospital without being noticed by police officers or hospital staff.

The suspect was apprehended roughly an hour later when three Newark NJ police officers saw him walking along the 60th block of Hinsdale Place in Newark. The police officers were able to place the suspect under arrest without further incident.

The Newark Police Department director later issued a statement commending the three police officers who located and captured the escapee.

The Newark Police Department Internal Affairs Unit is actively investigating how the prisoner escaped from custody and evaded police on his way out of the hospital. Authorities have yet to reveal any details about that internal investigation.

Prior to the alleged escape attempt, the suspect was already facing charges for possession of drug paraphernalia. Now the suspect faces additional charges for escaping custody.

For additional information about this case, check out NJ.com article entitled “Escaped Prisoner Recaptured After Ducking Cops at Newark Hospital.”

Newark NJ Reckless Manslaughter SuspectA Newark New Jersey recently received a 5-year prison sentence for fatally shooting another man on a street in Bloomfield, NJ.

The tragic shooting happened on a Bloomfield street in April 2013. According to officials, the 27-year-old suspect shot and killed a 24-year-old Belleville man in the 500 block of Beardsley Avenue in Bloomfield, NJ.

Witnesses at the scene said that the dispute occurred shortly after the suspect was approached by a number of people who were intoxicated.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene and tried to save the victim, but the victim was pronounced dead within an hour of the shooting.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with murder, as well as multiple weapons offenses.

The suspect eventually reached a plea deal with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. He then appeared in Essex County Superior Court for a plea hearing and pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter charges.

During the plea hearing, the suspect’s public defender told the superior court judge that the suspect was “under attack” at the time of the shooting. According to an audio recording of the plea hearing, the suspect’s defense attorney argued that his client’s actions on the night of the shooting were “understandable.”

The Essex County prosecutor spoke at the hearing and said that the suspect acted wrongly in killing an unarmed victim.

As a result of the plea agreement, the suspect will have to serve slightly less than 5 years in New Jersey State Prison. This was a lesser sentence than prosecutors wanted; prosecutors requested that the suspect be sentenced to 7 years in state prison.

When handing down the sentence, the superior court judge said that the suspect does not have any previous criminal convictions.

To learn more about this case, go to NJ.com article entitled “Newark Man Gets 5 Years for ‘Understandable’ Fatal Shooting.”

High School Senior Killed in Newark NJNewark New Jersey police are investigating the death of a woman who was shot and killed on a city street.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, a teenage female was shot and killed while she walked on South 11th Street in Newark, NJ. The fatal incident took place at night, sometime around 11 p.m.

Newark NJ authorities identified the shooting victim as a 19-year-old girl who lived in Newark and attended Weequahic High School. The victim was reportedly a senior at the high school.

Not long after the shooting, Newark police received a call and dispatched officers to the scene. Police officers searched the area for the suspect, but they were unable to locate them. Several onlookers saw Newark police officers investigating on nearby blocks.

Police officers also spoke with a number of area residents, including one man who lives four blocks away from the site of the shooting. The man told police that he heard several gunshots fired in succession.

Newark investigators have not yet identified a suspect or a motive for the fatal shooting. Some members of the victim’s family spoke with the media and said that they believe the victim was targeted in the killing.

If Newark investigators are eventually able to identify and capture a suspect, it is likely that serious criminal charges for murder would follow. Murder is the most serious crime in the New Jersey Criminal Code. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, murder is a first degree felony that is punishable by life imprisonment. Moreover, there is a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in New Jersey State Prison for anyone convicted of first degree murder.

This recent tragedy was the 37th homicide in Newark in 2015. So far this year, there have been just 11 other homicides in the rest of Essex County, NJ.

For more information about this case, read NJ.com article entitled “Authorities Investigating Fatal Newark Shooting.”

Newark NJ Handgun Possession LawyerNewark NJ police arrested a Louisiana man accused of possessing a loaded gun while he drove his car on a city street.

According to law enforcement, the suspect was driving his vehicle near Madison Avenue and South 18th Avenue in Newark New Jersey when he drove through a stop sign. Members of the Newark Police Department Firearms Interdiction Team were on patrol in Newark when they allegedly observed the suspect commit the traffic offense.

Newark NJ police officers pulled over the suspect’s car and approached the driver. One of the officers reportedly saw a passenger try to place a bag under the backseat. According to authorities, the bag was open and contained a face mask and a black bandana.

Police officers instructed the 24-year-old driver, who lives in Louisiana, to get out of the car. When the suspect exited the vehicle, police officers allegedly saw a 9-mm automatic handgun hidden under his leg.

The suspect was immediately placed under arrest by the officers. He was subsequently charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.

Although the suspect hails from Louisiana, he is subject to significant penalties under the New Jersey Criminal Code. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5, anyone found in possession of a prohibited weapon like a handgun, assault firearm, or shotgun can be charged with a third degree criminal offense. A conviction for third degree illegal handgun possession could result in a sentence of 3-5 years in NJ State Prison.

For additional information about this case, check out NJ.com article entitled “Traffic Stop Leads to Weapons Arrest in Newark.”

Newark NJ Heroin Possession LawyersNew Jersey’s heroin epidemic is getting significant worse, according to statistics that were recently released.

The disheartening trend is particularly evident in Essex County, New Jersey, which has seen a staggering increase in the number of heroin-related deaths since 2011.

According to data released by the NJ Medical Examiner’s Office, among all counties in New Jersey, Essex County had one of the largest increases in heroin overdose deaths between 2011 and 2014. The number of heroin death rose by 284 percent in Essex County, which includes Newark, East Orange, West Orange, and Bloomfield.

The heroin epidemic has become more of a problem in recent years. While the total number of heroin-related deaths in Essex County from 2011 to 2013, the number of heroin overdose deaths was four times higher in 2014 than it was in 2011.

Other New Jersey counties also saw significant rises in the number of heroin overdose deaths. Those counties included Bergen County, Camden County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, and Ocean County. Moreover, Passaic County saw the highest percentage increase in heroin overdose deaths since 2011.

The statistics also indicates that heroin overdoses, fatal and non-fatal, are also on the rise in New Jersey – the total number of heroin overdoses doubled from 2011 to 2014, with more than 600 people suffering heroin overdoses in 2014.

NJ lawmakers are currently trying to combat the state’s heroin problem by drafting possible solutions. Many legislators recognize that the state’s current laws on heroin possession and heroin distribution, have not been terribly effective in fighting heroin abuse. That’s why more and more state lawmakers are working to come up with solutions that focus on drug treatment and rehabilitation, as opposed to incarceration.

For additional information about this case, see Patch.com article entitled “Essex County: 284 Percent Increase in Heroin Deaths Since 2011.”

Newark New Jersey Bank Robbery SuspectNewark NJ police recently arrested a man accused of robbing a TD Bank branch on Mulberry Street.

The 61-year-old suspect, who lives in Newark, allegedly walked into the Newark TD Bank and ordered bank tellers to give him cash and checks. According to witnesses, the suspect implied that he was armed with a firearm during the theft.

After the bank employees placed an undisclosed amount of money and checks into a white bag, the suspect exited the bank and fled the scene. By the time police officers arrived at the bank, the suspect had already hailed a taxi and taken it to Central Avenue and South 8th Street in Newark. From that location, the suspect reportedly fled on foot.

The theft incident occurred in late May. Since then, police have been investigating the bank robbery and searching for the suspect. Several departments collaborated on the investigation, including police from Newark and Hillside, as well as the FBI and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The suspect was finally caught after members of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force got a tip that he was near South 8th Street. Police went to the scene and placed the suspect under arrest.

The suspect was charged with multiple crimes, including armed robbery and weapons offenses.

If the suspect is ultimately convicted on the robbery charges, he faces significant penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, anyone who commits a robbery while armed with a deadly weapon, such as a firearm or handgun, can be charged with a first degree felony. A conviction for first degree armed robbery could lead to a sentence of 10-20 years in New Jersey State Prison.

To learn more about this case, check out NJ.com article entitled “Newark Man, 61, Charged with Robbing Downtown Bank.”

Newark New Jersey Manslaughter SuspectThe fatal stabbing of a man in Newark New Jersey stemmed from a dispute over an Xbox video game.

Police reports indicated that the couple lived together at a house located on the 100 block of Stuyvesant Avenue in Newark, NJ. The incident took place at the residence during the morning hours.

According to authorities, the 28-year-old suspect stabbed her 26-year-old boyfriend after the couple got into an argument about their Microsoft Xbox video game console.

The verbal dispute quickly turned physical. At one point, the suspect allegedly went to the kitchen and picked up a knife. She then allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest.

Emergency responders were called to the scene sometime later. Shortly after arriving at the residence, they rushed the victim to nearby University Hospital. Unfortunately, doctors were unable to save him; he was pronounced dead after reaching the medical facility.

Newark police arrested the suspect without incident. She has been charged with aggravated manslaughter. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4(b), a manslaughter charge can be elevated to the more serious offense of aggravated manslaughter when the offender recklessly causes death under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life. A conviction for aggravated manslaughter could result in a sentence of 10-30 years in NJ State Prison.

The Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Task Force are conducting a joint investigation into the killing.

After being arrested and charged, the suspect was transported to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, New Jersey. She was being held at the jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.

This recent death is the 36th homicide in Newark so far this year.

To learn more about this case, go to NJ.com article entitled “Argument Over Xbox Led to Fatal Stabbing of Newark Man, Police Reports Say.”

Newark Heroin Distribution SuspectNewark New Jersey police recently arrested four people who were allegedly part of a suspected heroin mill.

According to law enforcement, the arrests were made at a heroin mill being operated out of an apartment located at 40 West Kinney Street in Newark’s Central Ward. The suspects, three men and one woman, were reportedly present when Newark narcotics officers served a search warrant at the apartment.

After serving the warrant, police officers reportedly saw someone toss a black bag from an apartment window. Police later found the bag and allegedly found a 9-millimeter handgun inside the bag. Police also allegedly discovered two high-capacity magazines in the bag.

A subsequent search of the apartment allegedly turned up 298 decks of heroin, 18 grams of uncut heroin, 40 Xanax pills, 200 grams of marijuana, and more than $1,200 in cash.

Newark police then arrested the four suspects: a 20-year-old male, a 21-year-old male, a 26-year-old male, and a 20-year-old female.

The apartment is located in the same complex where two men sustained shooting injuries earlier this year.

The suspects face a number of criminal charges, including heroin manufacturing, possession of heroin, and illegal possession of a handgun.

After being arrested and processed, all four suspects were taken to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, NJ. The male suspects are being held at the jail in lieu of separate $500,000 bail amounts. The female suspect is being held at the jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

For further information about this case, access NJ.com article entitled “4 Arrested with Nearly 300 Heroin Decks, Illegal Gun, Police Reports Say.”

Newark New Jersey Shooting InvestigationNewark NJ police are looking into a non-fatal shooting that occurred in the city’s Lower Roseville section.

According to authorities, the victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds while he walked near the intersection of North 13th Street and 6th Avenue West in Newark, New Jersey.

Emergency responders discovered the victim lying on the street. He had reportedly sustained injuries to both his ankle and his wrist.

After emergency personnel found the victim, he was transported to nearby University Hospital. Doctors were able to treat the victim and prevent a catastrophic outcome. He was later listed in stable condition.

The Newark Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit investigated the shooting, with police cordoning off a section of the street while detectives searched for ballistic evidence that might lead to a break in the case.

A neighborhood resident spoke with police officers and told them that he had been awakened by the sounds of gunshots.

Police said that the investigation is currently in its “early stages.” Investigators have not yet identified a suspect or a motive for the non-fatal shooting.

If a suspect is eventually identified and located, they could face serious criminal charges for aggravated assault, as well as charges for weapons offenses. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), anyone who uses a deadly weapon to cause serious bodily injury may be charged with a second degree felony. A conviction for second degree aggravated assault could potentially result in a sentence of 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison.

For additional information about this case, view NJ.com article entitled “Man Injured in Daytime Newark Shooting.”

Newark NJ Sexual Abuse AttorneysA Newark NJ man recently appeared in federal court and pleaded guilty to charges of sexually abusing two young girls.

According to federal prosecutors, the 26-year-old suspect committed the sex crimes against two underage victims in 2012.

Prosecutors also said that the suspect recorded the sexual abuse on a personal cell phone. The suspect allegedly took at least two photographs on his cell phone while he committed the sex offenses against the victims.

When law enforcement first became aware of the alleged sexual abuse, they began an investigation into the suspect. As part of the investigation, police executed a search warrant on the suspect’s laptop computer, desktop computer, and cell phone. Police reportedly found the illegal photos on the suspect’s cell phone.

The suspect was arrested and charged with two counts of child pornography.

At a recent hearing in U.S. District Court in Newark NJ, the suspect reportedly pleaded guilty to the child pornography charges.

Now the suspect faces significant penalties when he returns to the district court in September for sentencing. The suspect could potentially be sentenced to up to 60 years in federal prison. Moreover, the district court judge may impose a fine of as much as $500,000.

As a result of the conviction, the suspect will probably have to register as a sex offender if and when he is released from federal prison.

For further information about this case, access NJ.com article entitled “26-Year-Old Admits Sexual Abuse of Girls, Authorities Say.”