According to authorities, a man in Clifton was mugged on Tuesday by two homeless men. Police say 39 year-old Piotr Waszkiewica and 53 year-old Shane Crocker (who is wheelchair bound) approached the victim outside of the Exito Supermarket in Botany Square. The two demanded $20 from the victim, and when he refused, the two men hit him, threw him to the ground and shook down his pockets. They were able to get away with $100. The victim was left with facial injuries. Detectives were later able to identify the pair and on Wednesday afternoon, they were arrested on Lake Avenue. They were each charged with robbery and released pending detention hearings in Central Judicial Processing Court in Paterson. Click here to read more at www.dailyvoice.com.
The penalties if convicted of the crime of robbery can be severe. Robbery is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1, which provides:
a. A person is guilty of robbery if, in the course of committing a theft, he:
- Inflicts bodily injury or uses force upon another; or
- Threatens another with or purposely puts him in fear of immediate bodily injury; or
- Commits or threatens immediately to commit any crime of the first or second degree.
Robbery is a crime of the second degree, except that it is a crime of the first degree if in the course of committing the theft the actor:
- Attempts to kill anyone; or
- Purposely inflicts or attempts to inflict serious bodily injury; or
- Is armed with, or uses, or threatens the immediate use of a deadly weapon.
A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between 10 and 20 years in New Jersey State Prison.
A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of between 5 and 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
*Robbery (in either degree) is an enumerated crime under the No Early Release Act (NERA), meaning that 85% of the sentence imposed must be served before becoming eligible for parole.
If you or someone you know is charged with robbery, you should contact an attorney immediately. Criminal defense lawyer, Alissa D. Hascup is skilled and experienced at defending thousands of individuals charged with robbery throughout the state of New Jersey. She is committed to ensuring your rights are protected in court and that you receive 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.
