|
TRENTON
–Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor
announced that a Camden man pleaded guilty
to aggravated assault today in connection
with a 2009 shooting that left a man wounded.
According
to Director Taylor, Michael Daniels, 26,
of Camden, pleaded guilty to second-degree
aggravated assault before Superior Court
Judge Michele M. Fox in Camden County. In
pleading guilty, Daniels admitted that he
shot a 17-year-old male on Sept. 23, 2009
at Princess and Kaighn Avenues in Camden.
Under the plea agreement, the state will
recommend that Daniels be sentenced to 10
years in state prison, including 8 ½
years without possibility of parole. Judge
Fox scheduled sentencing for Daniels for
Oct. 7.
Deputy
Attorney General Kristen Harberg took the
guilty plea for the Division of Criminal
Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau.
The charge, which was contained in a Jan.
27 Camden County grand jury indictment,
stemmed from a joint investigation by the
New Jersey State Police, Camden County Prosecutor’s
Office and Camden City Police.
The
investigation revealed that on Sept. 23,
2009. Daniels and a co-defendant, Marcus
Jones, 24, of Camden, walked past the victim,
and the victim attempted to shake hands
with the defendants. Daniels refused to
shake the victim’s hand, and an argument
and scuffle ensued. Jones allegedly handed
Daniels a gun, and Daniels chased the victim
with the gun. The victim ultimately put
his hands up and begged Daniels not to shoot
him, but Daniels shot him in the torso at
close range. The victim was hospitalized
after the shooting but survived.
Jones
was charged in the Jan. 27 indictment with
aggravated assault (2nd degree), aggravated
assault (3rd degree), possession of a weapon
for an unlawful purpose (2nd degree), unlawful
possession of a weapon (2nd degree), possession
of a weapon as a convicted felon (2nd degree),
transfer of a community gun (2nd degree),
and resisting arrest (4th degree). He is
scheduled for trial on Jan. 24 before Judge
Fox. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum
sentence of 10 years in prison and a $150,000
fine, while fourth-degree crimes carry a
maximum sentence of 18 months and a $10,000
fine. The indictment is merely an accusation
and Jones is presumed innocent until proven
guilty.
Acting
Attorney General Dow credited the investigators
who conducted the investigation. They are
Investigator Michael Dougherty of the Camden
County Prosecutor’s Office; Cpl. Orlando
Perez, Sgt. Zsakhiem James, Officer Leon
Reed, and Detective Bill Schaefer of the
Camden City Police Department; and Detective
Marco Rodriguez and Sgt. Larry Wachter of
the New Jersey State Police.
### |
