2004
Media Releases:
CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
VINCENT P. SARUBBI, CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA INFORMATION
April 7, 2004
Camden County Prosecutor Vincent P. Sarubbi reported that a Grand
Jury today indicted four teenagers charged with Aggravated Assault
in the beating of a Pennsauken youth on Nov. 2, 2003, in Newton
Lake Park in Collingswood, N.J. Aggravated Assault is a second degree
crime which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
The Grand Jury voted not to indict one other teenager who had been
charged with Aggravated Assault. The Grand Jury's "no bill" vote
means charges are dismissed against George I. Band Jr., 18, of Haddon
Township.
Bret Wilson, age 18 of Pennsauken, Wilson remained in a coma for
two months following the assault. He is now recuperating at home
and has made progress although he continues to suffer effects of
his injuries.
Indicted were:
-
Zachary C. Albino, M/18, of the 200 block of Fern Street in Haddon
Township
- Matthew
R. Leiter, M/19, of the 1100 block of Merrick Avenue in Haddon
Township
- Dominic
Latella, M/17, of the first block of East Cuthbert Road in Haddon
Township
- Thomas
W. McKeown, M/17, of the 2900 block of Sandyford Road in Philadelphia
All
four remain free on $15,000 cash bail. No court appearances are
scheduled at this time.
The defendants are accused of "repeatedly kicking and striking the
victim about the head and torso until he was rendered defenseless
and unconscious." The victim was allegedly punched and kicked 60
more or times when teens from Haddon Township and Pennsauken met
in the park in the early morning hours of Nov. 2, after an earlier
confrontation in Haddon Township
The investigation indicates the defendants were among a group of
teenagers from Haddon Township who got involved in an altercation
with a group of Pennsauken teens. The incident apparently began
as a dispute over one teen's girlfriend, Sarubbi said.
The confrontation started shortly before 11 p.m. on Nov. 1, 2003,
with an altercation at the 7-11 store on Cuthbert Road in Haddon
Township, the investigation indicates. Two groups of teens, totaling
more than 30 people, later met in the park, where the defendants
allegedly assaulted Wilson.
All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent
unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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