Newark - Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today the Honorable Martin G. Cronin, Judge of Superior Court, sentenced Donald Higgs, 46, of Irvington to 15 years in New Jersey state prison for carjacking and robbery.
Under the No Early Release Act, Higgs must serve 85 percent of his sentence -- 12 years and nine months -- before he is eligible for parole. When he is released, he must serve five additional years on parole.
On March 21, an Essex County jury convicted Higgs of the May 11, 2014 carjacking and robbery. The crime occurred in a church parking lot.
According to Assistant Prosecutor William Neafsey, who tried the case, the 22-year-old victim and his three brothers were working as D.J.'s at an event in the Sacred Heart Church located at 537 Grove Street in Irvington.
The victim went to his brother's Cadillac to charge his cell phone. While sitting in the vehicle, Higgs carjacked the Cadillac. OnStar tracked the vehicle to the area in front of a sports bar at 390 North 5th Street in Newark, Assistant Prosecutor Neafsey said. While waiting at the scene for a tow truck, the victim saw Higgs walking down the street and identified him to police, according to Assistant Prosecutor Neafsey.
Higgs was previously convicted of a 1995 carjacking and received a 20-year prison sentence. He was released in 2004.
Higgs has a total of 40 prior arrests and 13 adult felony convictions, including burglary and receiving stolen property.
Assistant Prosecutor Neafsey said, "This was a fair sentence given the fact there were no physical injuries to the victim, but clearly this defendant is one who needs to be deterred. In the past he has had multiple opportunities to turn his life around but failed repeatedly to take advantage of those opportunities.''