Morris County officials announce the state prison sentence through the efforts of the Morris County Auto Theft Task Force. Specifically, on December 17, Malik Carter, 21, of Newark, was sentenced to three years in New Jersey State prison for his crimes.
According to county officials, this conviction stems from an incident that occurred on December 15, 2020, when a resident of Harding Township reported their 2018 Black Porsche Macan Turbo had been stolen from their residence overnight.
As a result of an investigation by the Harding Township Police Department, along with the Morris County Auto Theft Task Force, Carter was identified through digital forensics as having committed the theft in Harding Township and similar crimes in jurisdictions in surrounding counties.
According to officials, on December 16, 2020, Carter was also identified and apprehended by the Essex County Sheriff's Office upon Carter exiting the stolen 2018 Black Porsche Macan Turbo and fleeing from police.
Officials said that on November 16, Carter's pleas of guilt to Theft by Unlawful Taking and Resisting Arrest was accepted.
According to county officials, the State recommended Carter be sentenced to three years in prison on the Theft charges, concurrent to eighteen months in prison on the Resisting Arrest charge.
On December 22, Carter was sentenced in accordance with the plea agreement and the State's recommendations.
This arrest was the result of police collaboration between multiple agencies and counties, resulting in a prosecution led by the Morris County Auto Theft Task Force.
"Today's sentence shows the importance of law enforcement teamwork and coordination in investigating motor vehicle thefts which have been plaguing our region," Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said.
"Morris County Law Enforcement will aggressively investigate car thefts, and our prosecution team will ensure that those responsible for these thefts receive appropriate sentences to deter these thefts and keep our community safe."
The ATTF was formed in 2019 to combat the growing number of motor vehicle thefts in Morris County.
The ATTF is operated out of the Morris County Prosecutor's Special Operations Division which also handled Narcotics Trafficking cases and other organized crime investigations.