A Sicklerville man who the State alleges was 17-years-old when he shot and killed a juvenile last year in Pleasantville will stand trial as an adult in Atlantic County Superior Court, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton announced.
Pleasantville Police responded on Friday, August 7, 2015, at 12:50 p.m., to the 1100 block of Lincoln Avenue in Max Manning Park, for a report of a body found lying in the field.
Upon arrival, police found the dead body of Dr. Steven Davion Garrett, a 17-year-old male from Pleasantville.
An autopsy performed the next morning by Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office Dr. Gerald Feigin determined that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, and that the manner of death was homicide.
The two-month investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Pleasantville Police Department led to the arrest on October 8, 2015 of Isaiah J. Newsome, male, then 17-years-old, from the 100 block of Hampshire Road, Sicklerville.
The juvenile was arrested without incident at his Sicklerville school with the assistance of the Gloucester Township Police, and turned over to the custody of Major Crimes and Pleasantville detectives, on juvenile delinquency charges authorized by the Atlantic County Prosecutor for murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
The juvenile was lodged in the Harbor Juvenile Detention Center, Egg Harbor City, and was later moved to the Atlantic County Justice Facility, where he has remained in custody.
This morning, Atlantic County Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Judge Susan F. Maven granted the motion of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, which sought the waiver of jurisdiction of the case to the Atlantic County Superior Court, Criminal Division.
Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office detectives subsequently prepared the following criminal charges against Newsome:
* Murder “by shooting the victim...with a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver ... three times, causing the death of the victim—a crime of the 1st degree,
* Involvement in Criminal Street Gang Activity—a 1st degree crime,
* Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose—a 2nd degree crime, and
* Unlawful Possession of a Weapon—a 3rd degree crime.
The complaint warrant was issued and bail set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Wild at $750.000 full cash / no 10%.
Detectives served the warrant to Newsome at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
A conviction for murder carries a potential sentence of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison for a period of 30 years to life.
A 1st degree conviction carries a potential sentence of 10-20 years in prison.
The potential prison sentence for a 2nd degree conviction is 5-10 years, and for a 3rd degree conviction: 3-5 years.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666, or the Pleasantville Police Department at (609) 641-6100.