Four Juveniles Arrested on Suspicion of Riding in Stolen Vehicle
Four teenagers were arrested in Newark after driving to school in a stolen Jeep. According to a news report in The Star Ledger, the incident began on Clifton Avenue and ended near Barringer High School in Newark. A sheriff's patrol car picked up an electronic signal from the Jeep as the four 16-year-old students were traveling to school. The Jeep clipped the patrol car, drove on the sidewalk, and later crashed into a parked car. All four occupants were detained. The three passengers were charged with receiving stolen property and resisting arrest. The driver faces additional charges and is being held in a youth detention facility.
Under New Jersey law, an individual does not have to physically steal an item to be arrested for theft. The consequences of a New Jersey juvenile theft arrest are serious. New Jersey Statute 2C:20-7(a) 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. It is an affirmative defense that the property was received with purpose to restore it to the owner. Receiving means acquiring possession, control or title, or lending on the security of the property." It is important in these types of cases to determine if defendants are actually aware that the item in question was stolen.
A skilled juvenile criminal defense attorney will break down the circumstances of an arrest to help a family understand their legal options. It is usually up to the prosecutor to determine whether a juvenile is charged as a minor or as an adult. Juveniles who are charged with serious or violent crimes may be charged as adults. Any juvenile crime case requires an attorney who can handle it with skill and sensitivity.
The Princeton juvenile crime defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein fight hard to protect the rights of our young clients. If your son or daughter is facing criminal charges in New Jersey, please contact our law offices at 609-240-0040 to discuss your case at absolutely no cost.
