Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino announced today, Friday, March 19, 2010, the arrest of former Seton Hall basketball player Kelly Whitney, 27, of Chicago in connection with the South Orange robbery allegedly involving Robert Mitchell, another former Seton Hall player and current student.
Whitney was arrested at approximately 11 p.m. last night at a Newark hotel. He was charged with eight counts of kidnapping, eight counts of aggravated assault, robbery, burglary and weapons charges.
Whitney and Mitchell allegedly entered a residence located on Irvington Avenue in South Orange on Monday, March 15, 2010, forcing the eight occupants of the home to move from various rooms into a common area where they forced them at gunpoint to turn over their cash and personal items.
Credit cards, cell phones, debit cards, drivers’ licenses, digital cameras and approximately $300 in cash were among the items allegedly taken.
Mitchell was arrested on Tuesday when South Orange officers spotted him in the vicinity of South Orange Avenue and Poe Avenue in Newark.
In addition to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the South Orange Police Department and the United States Marshals Task Force participated in the arrest.
Bail for Whitney was set at $650,000 by the Honorable Amilkar Velez-Lopez, JMC. Both Mitchell and Whitney remain in custody in Essex County. Whitney’s arraignment has been tentatively scheduled for Monday, March 22, 2010.
Members of the press seeking to bring cameras into the courtroom must contact the Trial Court Administrator’s Office at 973-693-5701.
These are mere accusations. Defendants are considered innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
