By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Bergen County announced the arrest of 28-year-old Jahlea Jones of Jersey City on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, interfering with custody, contempt, receiving stolen property, and unlawful taking by means of conveyance.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said the arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck and the Bogota Police Department under the direction of Chief Daniel Maye.
Officials stated that on Thursday, April 25, the Bogota Police Department contacted the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Child Abduction Response Team regarding the alleged abduction of a juvenile.
An investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Bogota Police Department revealed that on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Jahlea Jones took her child, knowing that she was not privileged to do so, from a residence in Bogota, officials say.
Authorities say Jones was located with the child in Lodi, and she was found to be operating a vehicle that had been previously reported stolen.
As a result of the investigation, officials said, Jahlea Jones was charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree receiving of stolen property, fourth-degree interfering with custody, fourth-degree contempt, and fourth-degree theft by unlawful means of conveyance.
Jones was remanded to the Bergen County Jail for a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.