2003 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA   INFORMATION

March 11, 2003

Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi and Acting Camden Police Chief Edwin Figueroa reported that a judge today ordered a 15-year-old Camden High School student to remain held on charges of Armed Robbery, weapons offenses, Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer and Attempted Escape in connection with an incident inside the high school on Monday, March 10, 2003.

Superior Court Judge Angelo DiCamillo ordered the girl to remain detained in the Camden County Youth Detention Center in Blackwood pending a hearing Thursday, March 13, 2003, in Family Court. The hearing Thursday is scheduled for approximately 9 a.m. in Courtroom 22 at the Camden County Hall of Justice before DiCamillo. At a detention hearing today, Assistant Prosecutor Sonja Furlow argued that the girl should be held because she poses a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Her name is being withheld because she is a juvenile.

Sarubbi said today that he and members of his office are discussing whether to seek to have the girl waived to adult court and will likely make a decision by Thursday's hearing.

"This was a serious incident and these are serious charges," Sarubbi said. "Children need to feel safe in their schools. Conduct like that alleged in this case poses a threat to law-abiding students and the educational system itself."

The ninth-grade student allegedly used a loaded .25-caliber semiautomatic handgun in an attempt to rob a fellow student inside the school shortly before 10 a.m. on Monday, March 10, then struggled with arresting officers while being taken into custody.

All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.