Two juveniles charged in home invasion
Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew C. Carey and Director Kenneth Lebrato of the Carteret Police Department, announce that two juveniles, both 16 years of age, have been arrested today and charged in the Aug. 18th home invasion of an elderly couple.
According to authorities, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office detectives arrested the juvenile this morning in Kearney, and the other was arrested last night by Jersey City Police Department officers.
Officials say both teens are charged with one count of robbery in the first degree, one count of conspiracy to commit robbery in the second degree, one count of armed burglary in the second degree, two counts of motor vehicle theft in the third degree, two counts of burglary of a motor vehicle in the third degree, and one count of theft in the fourth degree.
Previously, Diego Hernandez, 18, of Carteret was charged in this case with one count of robbery in the first degree, two counts of burglary in the third degree, two counts of theft in the third degree, one count of burglary in the second degree, one count of theft in the fourth degree, one count of employing a juvenile to commit a criminal offense in the first degree, and one count of conspiracy to commit second degree robbery.
Officials say an investigation determined that at 5:49 am on August 18th, there was a home invasion of an elderly couple in west Carteret. Money, jewelry, a television, and two vehicles were stolen; the vehicles were later recovered in Jersey City.
The investigation is active and is continuing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Keith Cassens of the Carteret Police Department at (732) 511-3864, or Detective Grace Brown of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3373.
As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against the juveniles and Hernandez are merely accusations and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.