By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that on Tuesday, October 22, Luke Hawkins, 64, of Atlantic City, was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) for third-degree theft from a person, to run concurrently with five years NJSP for third-degree burglary, and to run concurrently with three years NJSP for third-degree failure to register under Megan’s Law.
The defendant was also sentenced to two violations of probation for petty disorderly person harassment and fourth-degree failure to register, officials stated. He was sentenced to 18 months NJSP concurrent for those violations.
According to Atlantic County officials, on November 16, 2022, the defendant took multiple cans of Red Bull from Wawa in Pleasantville. The defendant threatened to stab an employee of Wawa when that employee attempted to stop the shoplifting.
The defendant left the Wawa on a bike and was apprehended a block down the road and found in possession of the Red Bull, officials say. The defendant admitted to stealing Red Bull cans.
County authorities said that on February 8, 2023, the defendant was seen entering a home through a broken window and rummaging through items.
Pleasantville police officers arrived and apprehended the defendant, who had a pry bar and flathead screwdriver in his possession, County officials stated. Nothing was taken from the residence.
Atlantic City police say that on December 19, 2023, after investigation, it was determined the defendant had a duty to re-register under Megan’s Law within 48 hours of being released from a correctional facility.
The defendant did not re-register after his release and had not re-registered for over a month after his release, officials said.