A Newark teen has been charged in connection with the theft of nine cars from a Morristown used car dealership last August.
A fingerprint recovered by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office led authorities to Ahjhir Jones, 18, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office said on Monday.
Jones was charged on Jan. 19, 2022, and lodged in the Morris County Jail.
Morristown police responded to GT Motors on Morris Street on Aug. 6, 2021, to investigate a report of stolen vehicles. Surveillance video showed multiple individuals entering the business and stealing nine vehicles from the dealership lot, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.
Detectives from the police bureau and prosecutor’s office developed additional evidence linking Jones to the crime. They were assisted by the Morris County Autho Theft Task Force.
Jones has been charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit auto theft; and the third-degree crimes of theft by unlawful taking, conspiracy to commit burglary, burglary, criminal mischief, and unlawful means of conveyance.
Below is the full statement.
From the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office:
Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Announce Arrest
in Motor Vehicle Theft Investigation
Jan. 24, 2022
Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, and Morristown Police Chief Darnell Richardson announce the arrest of Ahjhir Jones, 18, of Newark, New Jersey.
On August 6, 2021, the Morristown Police Department responded to GT Motors for the report of multiple motor vehicles stolen from the automobile dealership. Video surveillance from the area showed multiple individuals entering the business and stealing a total of nine (9) motor vehicles from the car lot. The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation responded to the scene and recovered a latent fingerprint, which later matched to Ahjhir Jones. After additional investigation by the Morristown Police Department Detective Bureau and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence Unit, additional evidence was developed linking Jones to the auto thefts at GT Motors to charge Jones with his involvement in the incident.
On January 19, 2022, Jones was charged by complaint-warrant and lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility in accordance with Criminal Justice Reform.
Ahjhir Jones has been charged with:
- Conspiracy to Commit Theft, violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:20-3a, a crime of the second degree.
- Theft by Unlawful Taking, violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3a, a crime of the third degree.
- Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, violation of N.J.S.A. 2C5-2a(1)/2C:18-2a(1), a crime ofthe third degree.
- Burglary, violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2a(1), a crime of the third degree.
- Criminal Mischief, violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3a(1), a crime of the third degree.
- Unlawful Means of Conveyance, violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-10d, a crime of the fourthdegree.
This arrest was the result of excellent police work by the Morristown Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigations, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence Unit and the Morris County Auto Theft Task Force. Subsequent investigation is being conducted jointly by the Morristown Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Intelligence Unit. Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Kelly is representing the State in this prosecution.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
