Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury convicted Nirell Logan, 26, of Irvington of first degree carjacking and second degree conspiracy to commit robbery and/or burglary.
In a case tried before the Honorable Peter V. Ryan, J.S.C., the jury deliberated for two days before returning a verdict late yesterday finding Logan guilty of the two charges. He was acquitted of attempted murder.
According to Justin D. Edwab, the Assistant Prosecutor who tried the case, the evidence presented at trial showed that on Aug. 22, 2010 at around 6 p.m. Logan and his codefendant, Juquan Walker, 24, of Irvington and a third man who was never identified went into a residence located at 32 Rosehill Place in Irvington with guns drawn, demanding money and drugs. The victims – a man, a woman and a six-year-old girl — said they had no idea what Logan and Walker were talking about. The defendants then attacked the male, hitting him with a hammer and the back of a gun. A fourth victim, who is the person the defendants were actually looking for, walked in on the altercation and was assaulted. In response to their demands for drugs and money this fourth victim informed the attackers that his stash was kept at a different off-site location and agreed to take them there.
When they steped out of the apartment to go to this second location, the fourth victim fleed. This fourth victim was then chased and shot in the back by Logan. The fourth victim was later brought to Newark Beth Israel Hospital where he survived. Meanwhile, Logan then went back to the apartment where the other male victim was standing outside by his car, trying to get away. Logan then demanded that this male victim get into the trunk of the car. A fight ensued, and the male victim was able to run away. Logan then stole his car.
Sentencing for Logan has been scheduled for April 20 before the Honorable Judge Peter V. Ryan, J.S.C. When he is sentenced, Logan faces up to 30 years in New Jersey State Prison for the first degree carjacking alone. “We will argue for the maximum sentence given the violent nature of the crime and the fact that the defendant has two prior felony convictions,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Edwab.
Prior to the Logan trial, the co-defendant Walker pled guilty to 2nd degree burglary. In a separate unrelated trial, tried by Assistant Prosecutor Edwab before the Honorable Thomas Moore, Walker was found guilty on Jan. 12 by a jury of having guns and drugs at Newark Penn Station. His sentencing will be on March 16, 2012.
