Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that the Honorable Thomas Moore, J.S.C. sentenced Juquan Walker, 24, of Irvington to 15 years in New Jersey State Prison yesterday for possessing cocaine, possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, weapons offenses and resisting arrest.
Walker, who has two prior felony convictions and was on probation at the time of the latest offense, must serve eight years in New Jersey State Prison before he will be eligible for parole.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who tried the case, on Aug 25, 2010, Walker and two of his friends jumped the turnstiles at Penn Station in Newark. Port Authority Police removed Walker and the two others men from the Path Train to give them a citation for jumping the turnstiles.
When the three men were brought to a room to be given the citations, Walker pushed the officer and attempted to flee. He jumped back over the turnstile to escape the police. The police gave chase. Walker then removed a backpack he was carrying and threw it onto the train tracks. Police tackled Walker and recovered the bag from the tracks before a train came. Inside the bag police found a loaded handgun as well as marijuana and crack cocaine.
“Walker was previously placed on probation for a drug offense and an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He had a second chance, but didn’t respond. A significant prison term is appropriate in this case,’’ said Edwab.
