Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, and Somerville Borough Chief of Police Dennis Manning announced that four individuals have been arrested and charged with kidnapping and aggravated assault.
Officials say police arrested and charged David Alex Villegas, 22, of Somerville, David Andres Villegas, 42, of Somerville, Troy Warren, 28, of Newark, and Joshua Villegas, 20, of Somerville.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that at approximately 2:03 P.M., Somerset County Communications received a 9-1-1 call reporting the incident. Somerville Police Department patrol units were dispatched to the Villegas residence on Davenport Street. Officers eventually located the victim at the residence and took him to headquarters for further investigation.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Aug. 9th, the victim, whom authorities are identifying as a 21-year old male from Somerville, was contacted by defendants Joshua and David Villegas and asked to accompany them on a trip. The victim agreed and was picked up in a vehicle occupied by defendants David Villegas, 22, David Villegas, 42, Joshua Villegas and Troy Warren.
Officials say as the vehicle drove away, defendant David Villegas, 22, grabbed the victim’s cell phone and began punching him with a closed fist in the stomach. The victim stated that for approximately an hour he was driven around in the vehicle and continuously beaten by defendant Warren while the other occupants of the vehicle yelled profanities at him and also struck him.
The defendants eventually drove to Davenport Street, where defendant David Andres Villegas and his two sons, defendants David Alex Villegas and Joshua Villegas reside. They remained parked in the driveway while defendant Warren continued to beat the victim.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force Tactical Narcotics Team responded to assist the Somerville Police Department in the investigation and executed search warrants on the suspected vehicle utilized during the kidnapping and the Villegas residence.
As a result of this investigation, all four men were arrested and charged with 1st degree Kidnapping and 3rd degree Aggravated Assault. The four defendants were transported and lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor Robertson, Chief Fodor and Chief Manning request anyone with information to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Somerville Police Department at (908) 725-0331 or via the STOPit app.
The charges are merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Additionally, the above information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence.
The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed.