Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced that an Essex County Grand Jury returned a 29-count indictment against former Seton Hall University basketball players Kelly Whitney, 27, of Chicago and Robert Mitchell, 23, of Brooklyn.
They are charged with eight counts of kidnapping, eight counts of aggravated assault, burglary, robbery and weapons offenses. If convicted of all charges, both could be sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.
The indictment alleges the men entered a home on Irvington Avenue in South Orange and kidnapped and robbed eight people at gunpoint on Monday, March 15, 2010. They allegedly took credit cards, cell phones, debit cards, drivers’ licenses, digital cameras and approximately $300 in cash.
Mitchell was arrested on March 16, 2010 when South Orange police officers spotted him in the vicinity of South Orange Avenue and Poe Avenue in Newark. Whitney was arrested on March 18, 2010 at a Newark hotel.
These are mere accusations. All defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Both men are still incarcerated.
