EXCLUSIVE: A serial burglar responsible for multiple home-burglaries which plagued the Lakewood community spanning over a period of about a year, is now a free man, Police Chief Rob Lawson confirmed to TLS.
Joshua McDaniel, 22, who was arrested last January and charged with multiple crimes, had been let loose after cutting a deal with County Prosecutors which gave him credit for time served.
“We worked very hard and put a lot of resources into apprehending him”, Police Chief Rob Lawson tells TLS. “It’s an insult to us and to the community”, the Chief says.
McDaniel, who had prior history, was charged with 3 burglaries, 6 counts of receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools, possession of Marijuana, possession of a weapon and possession of prohibited ammunition.
Typically, a suspect convicted on a single charge of 3rd degree burglary, could face 3-5 years in prison. A repeat offender could face longer sentences.
Detective Lieutenant Paul Daly tells TLS it appears McDaniel sat in prison for a total of about 3-4 months.
The system is “Innocent until proven guilty”, Lawson says, “but he never even made it to the courtroom”, after working out a deal with the Prosecutors which gave him credit for time served as he awaited trial.
McDaniel, a Lakewood resident, was arrested in January, 2011, after police spotted his vehicle leaving the scene of a burglary on Ponderosa Drive after a rash of burglaries. At the time of his arrest, McDaniel was found to be in possession of stolen property and his snow-covered shoes matched the footsteps leading to a home he’d just burglarized.
Following his arrest, he was charged with several burglaries, but police said then he may be responsible for the majority of rear-entry burglaries in Lakewood. (On February 3rd, 2011, TLS posted photos of some of the stolen property found on McDaniel).
But the fact that the Lakewood Department – responsible for taking a man who terrorized the community for a long time – was not even notified of the deal worked out with Prosecutors, is a slap in the face to the department.
“We were never even given the courtesy of being notified”, the Chief says. “It’s the most infuriating thing.”
Since being apprehended, Lakewood home burglaries dropped. But if statistics will remain the same with McDaniel back on the streets, only time will tell. TLS.
Could very well be that this criminal is a cooperating witness in other investigations that the Prosecutor thinks is more serious. In return he gets a good deal.
this is exactly what i said a few articles ago – its the liberal judges and prosecutors who release these animals.
our police officers risk life & limb capturing these criminals, our citizens are not allowed to be armed to defend themselves against these criminals = and judges & prosecutors simply release these animals back into the general populous. disgusting.
HOW DO WE EXPECT CRIMINALS TO FEAR THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND HAVE ANY RAMIFICATIONS FOR THEIR ACTIONS IF ALL THEY GET IS A SLAP ON THEIR WRISTS (or worst case scenario a silly jail sentence with free medical/food/education/gym/job training/counseling/room & board)??
This looks like LPD is trying to demage control if future robberies occur. I can’t blame them since everyone will be yelling and screaming and Lawson wants to cover his back and those on the Township Committee.
The only thing is now since LPD already knows who he is anytime there is a rubbery just go to his house and see if he is home.
to #3
do you think this is the only guy breaking into homes in lakewood?
go to his house and see if he is home ??? and then what ??
if he is not home you assume he is the guy ,wow great detective work !!!
I’m okay with this. A 3-5 year sentence would result in release in about a year with credit for good behavior anyway. In all likelihood, had their been a trial, he’d have been given credit for time served by the judge and immediately released. The plea bargain just saves the taxpayer the cost of a trial.
Crazyness!!!!! USA under Barak Husain.
While many people, innocent of crimes are languishing in prisons, criminals are free to wreak havoc on society.
Once again the OCPO shows how weak they are. They only take slam dunk high profile cases. It is a shame and Lakewood will be affected this weekend when MCDaniel breaks into some more houses.
At least he is employed!
EVERY HOME SHOULD HAVE A GUN! ITS OUR RIGHT TO PROTECT OUR FAMILYS ! IF THEY COME SHOOT AND THEN ASK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
why you didin’t say that the burglar is white????? and you only say when he is black????? or mex?????
The liberals continue to destroy our great country.
#10 you are an absolute moron.
-and what if its one of your children who secretly sneaked out of the house- now trying to get back in into bed. and you would shoot without asking, or making verbal contact!? STUPID!!
i guess crime does pay!!!
Close your windows, Lock your doors.
Did the OCPO make a deal with that felon who shot up the squat team members on Mackenzie yet??
Time to elect a new Sheriff and Appoint a new Proscecuter
#5 3-5 years for each count that means he should be sitting for 20 years, it says prohibited ammunition charge, that alone is supposed to be a mandatory 7 years for each bullet!
It’s his bad childhood that caused him to do bad things. It is not his fault, he is just misunderstood.
Maybe you should post a picture of him so we could be on the look out!?!
Barack Husain? Yea like this kinda thing hasn’t been happening since there has been a judicial system. Unreal comments by people like the president let Joshua McDaniel out of jail. Our system let this clown out of jail. Penalties should be harder than they are, by letting these people out early or no time in jail at all just makes them think they are above the law….
this is just more proff that law enforcement don’t work with each other the way they should like was the case that allowed 9/11/01
Made a deal. Priors, charged with 3 burglaries, 6 counts of receiving stolen property, possession of burglary tools, possession of Marijuana, possession of a weapon and possession of prohibited ammunition. The guys on his own from now on. If I were him I’d leave town. Drop a dime, drop the time.
Here is a clear example as to why the Chief is the Chief of Police and the Prosecutor is the Prosecutor. If the Prosecutor’s Office notified every jurisdiction of their decisions, nothing would be done. The fact is very simple, many good police investigations end up with the subject receiving probation or a dismissal. Think for a second, if every case went to trial, there would be an overload.
The prousicuter should be dismised.
welcome to america…..the guilty go free
Moshe Dovid: “Think for a second, if every case went to trial, there would be an overload.”
you know what man, you are so far off. things like traffic tickets need to be paid online, and be done with. 1st time drug offenses, and Juvenile offenses need not ever even see a court room. Silly offenses need to be handled quickly & easily. but instead the prosecutors ram it up the (you know what) of hard working people and county residents who they know have the money and means to pay fines & violations = and then simply slap the wrists of those who are broke, societal leaches.
its disgusting how young people who get caught with minor offenses have to stand in front of a judge, and then CAREER CRIMINALS get off easy. its a spit in the face to every single county resident. this career criminal is going to end up shot dead inside someones home one day, or maybe he might end up taking the life of a resident – lets hope its not you who ends up dead because ‘you didnt want the courts over burdened’.
Strange situation. Any criminal would be credited with time served. For example, a person who pleads guilty to murder and gets a reduced sentence of 25 years would be credited with 3-4 months that he sat in prison. The point is that time served by itself is not unique to this case.
The logical assumption is that in this case, Joshua would not have to sit in the slammer all that long so his time served was enough and a verdict at trial would not have kept him in jail for much longer. The question is: why not? Burglary is a serious offense, much more than robbery.