Approximately one month ago, a woman from Rahway had an unexpected encounter at Diary Queen in Cranford. As she existed her vehicle, a young man pushed her aside and stole her vehicle. The suspect fled the scene and the vehicle was later recovered in Newark.
The Cranford Police were able to make an arrest last week. The defendant is a 18 year old man from Newark. He was apprehended at a Fairfield hotel with the assistance of the Fairfield Police Department. The man has been charged with carjacking and bail is set at $150,000.
Carjacking is a First Degree Crime that carries a sentence of at least 10 years in prison. What many people may not know is that an individual need not hold a person in a vehicle in order for a carjacking charge or indictment to be viable. N.J.S.A. 2C:15-2 also applies to any force or threats of force during the course of a car theft. This young man has very serious problems and can expect to serve years in prison in accordance with N.J.S.A. 2C:15-2. It should also be noted that the No Early Release Act (“NERA”) shall require that he serve 85% of any prison term before he is even eligible for parole. He obviously needs to hire a good defense attorney in Union County.
