A man from Clifton, New Jersey is currently facing charges for luring a child, stalking, obstruction, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, after a local girl reported that he had been following her.
According to Detective Sergeant Robert Bracken of the Clifton Police Department, 20-year-old Hisham Ali is accused of following a 14-year-old girl over the course of a number of days and attempting to convince her to enter his vehicle.
The girl first noted the presence of a small black car driving behind her on January 6th at approximately 2:30 p.m., as she made her way home from school. The vehicle was following her again on the 7th and its driver offered her a ride on the 8th. Then, on the 9th, the same driver offered her a ride yet again, continuing to follow her even as she ignored him.
After the victim notified the Clifton Police Department, officers began surveillance of the vicinity. Detective Timothy Kaminski noticed the car on January 10th, at which time he attempted to speak with the driver, who ignored him. Kaminski was forced to remove the driver, who was ultimately identified as Hisham Ali, from the vehicle. A subsequent search of the car resulted in the discovery of marijuana as well as drug paraphernalia. Ali was then arrested and charged with the aforementioned offenses, at which time his bail was set at $75,000.
Of all of the charges that Ali is facing, luring a child is considered the most serious under current New Jersey Law. Offenses of this kind are codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:13-6, and are considered crimes of the second degree, which are punishable by a term of incarceration ranging from 5 to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
Stalking is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10, and is a crime of the fourth degree, punishable by up a maximum term of imprisonment of 18 months in New Jersey State Prison.
Obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function (“Obstructing”), which is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-1, can be classified as a fourth degree or disorderly persons offense. The key distinction is that a fourth degree offense involves the actor obstructing the detention or investigation of a crime or the prosecution of a person for a crime.
Possession of marijuana (in a quantity of less than 50 grams), governed under 2C:35-10a(4),and possession of drug paraphernalia, governed under N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2, are both considered disorderly persons offenses, which are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to 6 months in the county jail. There are also mandatory financial penalties associated with a disorderly persons drug conviction, including a $500 DEDR penalty and a $50 laboratory fee.
For more information pertaining to this case, access the following article: Cops: Clifton man stalked girl, 14, for days, tried to lure her
