Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced Nirell Logan, 26, of Irvington was sentenced today by the Honorable Judge Peter V. Ryan, J.S.C., to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison for first degree carjacking and second degree conspiracy to commit robbery and/or burglary.
“We argued for an extended-term sentence given the violent nature of the crime and the fact that the defendant has two prior felony convictions,” said Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, who tried the case. “The defendant’s offenses have escalated from prior disorderly persons offenses and third and fourth degree crimes to now, first degree carjacking and second degree conspiracy. We are satisfied that the defendant will be off the streets of Irvington for a significant amount of time.”
Logan has a history of 13 arrests and two prior felony convictions in the State of New Jersey. Because carjacking is subject to the No Early Release Act, the defendant must serve at least 17 years in state prison before he is eligible for parole.
On March 1, 2012, after deliberating for two days, an Essex County jury convicted Logan of first degree carjacking and second degree conspiracy to commit robbery and/or burglary.
On August 24, 2010, 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 man, hitting him with a hammer and the back of a gun. A fourth victim, who is the person Logan and Walker were looking for, walked in during 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 stepped out of the apartment to go to this second location, the fourth victim fled. The 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.
Surveillance cameras captured video of the armed men entering and leaving the residence, as well as the fight between Logan and the victim of the subsequent carjacking.
Prior to the Logan trial, the co-defendant Walker pled guilty to second degree burglary.
