Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, announced today that two men were convicted by an Essex County jury of an armed carjacking. One of those men was also convicted of an armed robbery that occurred on the following day.
Officials say Dashawn Ward, 21, of East Orange and Glenford Findlay, 19, of East Orange were both convicted of carjacking, conspiracy to commit carjacking, unlawful possession of a handgun and possession of a handgun for an unlawful purpose in connection with an incident that occurred on August 31, 2016.
According to a statement related by officials, Dashawn Ward was also convicted of first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and related firearm offenses in connection with an incident involving a different victim on September 1, 2016.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Austin Edwards, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor James Felix, on Aug. 31, 2016, both defendants carjacked a victim at gunpoint in East Orange. The defendants drove up in a vehicle while the victim was sitting in her car after work in the parking lot of her apartment complex.
Ward got out of the defendants’ car and pointed a handgun at the victim. He proceeded to force the victim’s driver side door open, ordered her out of her vehicle at gunpoint, and then stole her vehicle. Findlay was operating the vehicle that the defendants used to approach the victim.
Officials say on Sept. 1, 2016, Dashawn Ward and a second co-conspirator robbed a victim at gunpoint as he was walking down Central Avenue after purchasing some food. Ward pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded the victim’s personal items. After stealing the victim’s food, keys and sneakers, both suspects fled on foot.
Findlay was charged as the second co-conspirator, however the jury acquitted Findlay of these charges.
“The jury’s verdict ensures that these two violent offenders will not be able to victimize the citizens of East Orange for the foreseeable future,” said Assistant Prosecutor Austin Edwards. “This result was only possible because these victims came forward, worked with the East Orange Police, and took a stand for themselves and their community,” said Assistant Prosecutor James Felix.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 22, 2019, before the Honorable Marysol Rosero, Judge of the Superior Court.
Both defendants are facing a mandatory prison sentence between 10 and 30 years for the carjacking. Dashawn Ward is facing an additional mandatory prison sentence of 10 to 20 years for the robbery, which will likely run consecutively to the sentence for the carjacking. Defendants will have to serve 85 percent of these prison sentences before being eligible for parole.