Teenager Arrested in Jersey City for Riding as a Passenger in Stolen Car
A 13-year-old girl has been arrested in Jersey City after a witness identified her as a passenger in a stolen SUV. According to a news report in The Jersey Journal, the arrest occurred after a car accident on Secamus Road in Jersey City. Police arrested the arrested the 13-year-old girl on Kennedy Boulevard in North Bergen. Authorities have charged the teenager with receiving stolen property. It appears that the arrest was made based on witness descriptions of the male who was driving, the vehicle, and the teen passenger.
New Jersey Statute 2C:20-7 states: "A person is guilty of theft if he knowingly receives or brings into this State movable property of another knowing that it has been stolen, or believing that it is probably stolen." In other words, in order to be convicted of burglary in New Jersey, a person must be aware that an item was stolen. Where there is no intent or knowledge of the burglary or theft, a defendant may not be convicted of burglary, theft or receiving stolen property.
Parents of juveniles who have been charged with a serious offense may be convinced that they will not be harshly penalized because of their age. This is not necessarily the case. Failing to secure a quality New Jersey criminal defense lawyer in a juvenile crime case can result in unnecessary and unfair punishment. Your child's future is at stake here.
If your child has been accused of a crime in New Jersey, please contact the experienced Princeton juvenile crime defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein to examine your legal rights and options. Contact our offices at 609-240-0040 today to find out how we can help protect your child's future.
