According to authorities, seven year-old Aydin Brown was found unresponsive at a home on Weequahic Avenue in Newark at around 8:00am last Monday. Police responded after receiving reports of a sick or injured child. After arriving at the home, officers found Brown and immediately rushed him to Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark where he was pronounced dead at 9:05am. That evening, Detectives from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Officers arrested the boyfriend of the child’s mother, 36 year-old Mark Harper on charges of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Authorities say he was in the care of the child at the time of the incident. By Wednesday, authorities announced that the cause of death was “blunt force injury.” Harper was then charged with murder. The child’s death is currently still being investigated by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force. Click here to read more at www.patch.com.
If you find yourself in the situation that you are charged with Endangering The Welfare of a Child, you may face severe legal consequences. The penalty for a first degree charge is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between 10 and 20 years in New Jersey State Prison.
The charge of Murder is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, which provides: Criminal homicide constitutes murder when: The actor purposely causes death or serious bodily injury resulting in death; or the actor knowingly causes death or serious bodily injury resulting in death. Murder is a crime of the first degree – the most serious under our Criminal Code. Normally, a crime of the first degree is punishable by a period of between 10 to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. However, a person convicted of the crime of Murder is subject to a sentence of 30 years to life, with a minimum of 30 years that must be served before the person is eligible for parole.
If you find yourself or a family member in the situation where you are charged with Endangering the welfare of a Child or Murder, you should contact an attorney immediately. Especially because your freedom is at stake, it is important that you have an experienced criminal defense lawyer to guide you through the process. Former Morris County Prosecutor, Alissa D. Hascup is skilled at fighting to protect your rights in court and at making sure you get the best possible outcome for your case. Contact her office for a free consultation about your case. She is available 24/7 at 862-257-1200.
