SOMERVILLE, N.J. - Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson announced that a Somerset County jury found Michael Weathers, 28 of the Somerset section of Franklin Township guilty of first degree armed robbery of a young woman. The guilty verdict came after a six-day trial before the Hon. Peter J. Tober, J.S.C.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that during the early morning hours of December 14, 2016, at approximately 12:31 a.m., the Franklin Township Police responded to a 9-1-1 call from a female in her mid-twenties who stated that she was the victim of an armed robbery.
The robbery occurred at an apartment complex located on JFK Boulevard in Franklin Township. The victim was returning home from dinner when she was accosted by two men, one of whom threatened to stab her with a knife and the other man, later identified as defendant Michael Weathers, threatened to shoot her if she screamed. They stole her tote bag which contained her possessions and cellular telephone.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that patrol officers from the Franklin Township Police Department responded to the area. The victim utilized the Find my iPhone app on her iPad and it indicated the general area where her cellular telephone was located.
Based on the description of the suspect and the pinging location of her cell phone, police executed a motor vehicle stop of defendant Weathers. The victim was then brought to the area where defendant Weathers was and she positively identified him as the robber.
Later that morning after obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle, the victim’s tote bag containing her belongings and cellular telephone was found.
Defendant Weathers has remained in custody since his arrest. A sentencing date has been set for August 23, 2019. He faces up to 20 years in state prison, with 17 years without parole, pursuant to the No Early Release Act for violent offenders.