By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that on Thursday, March 20, Jayce F. Thomas, 34, of Pleasantville, pleaded guilty before the Honorable Bernard E. DeLury, Jr., P.J.Cr., to second-degree aggravated assault and second-degree certain persons not to possess weapons.
Under the terms of his guilty plea, Thomas is expected to be sentenced to an aggregate term of 10 years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the No Early Release Act, which requires an 85% period of parole ineligibility, ACPO officials said. Following his release, he will be under intensive parole supervision for five years.
These charges stem from a report to the Atlantic City Police Department on April 30, 2023, that a victim, J.L., arrived at the Atlantic City Regional Medical Center suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen, received emergency surgery, and was hospitalized, according to Atlantic County officials say.
ACPO authorities said the investigation determined that J.L. was shot and drove himself to this hospital for treatment. Police began an investigation into the shooting and recovered surveillance video footage from the unit block of S. Bellevue Avenue, which showed J.L. and a male engaged in a confrontation, most of which was concealed from view by a parked car.
Atlantic County officials said that on May 1, 2023, ACPD recovered a 9mm shell casing on the ground in the vicinity of where J.L. and the male appeared to fight. The investigation determined that the defendant, Jayce Thomas, was a person of interest as the shooter.
On May 10, 2023, police approached Thomas and a female associate in the immediate vicinity of the shooting scene. Police recovered a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun from the female's purse, ACPO officials say.
The woman was mirandized and identified the handgun as belonging to Jayce Thomas, ACPO officials stated. Thomas was charged with the handgun and lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
According to ACPO authorities, Ballistics testing conducted by the NJSP Forensics Services Bureau confirmed that the shell casing recovered from the scene of the shooting on the unit block of S. Bellevue Avenue on April 30, 2023, was fired from the handgun recovered from Thomas and the female on May 10, 2023.
Thomas did not have a permit to possess a firearm and has a prior conviction for second-degree robbery, which prohibits him from possessing a firearm, Atlantic County officials said.
Atlantic City Police said this case was investigated by the Atlantic City Violent Crimes Unit with assistance from the ACPD SIS (VICE) unit and prosecuted by the Gangs, Guns, and Narcotics Unit of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Thomas also pled guilty to second-degree certain persons not to possess weapons as a result of an Atlantic City Police Department investigation where Thomas was observed brandishing a black semiautomatic handgun while inside Cedar Market, located at 1025 Arctic Avenue, Atlantic City.
A witness reported the incident occurred on February 18, 2023. When it was reported to law enforcement the next day, patrol officers went to Cedar Market, Atlantic County officials stated. They reviewed and retained CCTV footage inside the store, corroborating the witness’s statement.
According to ACPO authorities, Thomas is expected to be sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison with a five-year parole ineligibility period concurrent with his other matter.