Criminal charge results from cell phone found at crime scene

A cell phone is one thing that most people will not go without in a modern lifestyle that demands instant communications. It’s also an obligatory badge of membership in our fast-paced society. But there are times when the benefits of having one may be outweighed by other considerations. A New Jersey man learned that lesson when he became the subject of a criminal charge after police found his dropped cell phone at the scene of a serious crime.

Authorities arrested the 25-year-old New Brunswick man after his cell phone was allegedly found near the spot where an unknown assailant had robbed and sexually assaulted a Franklin Township woman. When the police interviewed the hospitalized victim, they learned that the attacker had dropped a cell phone at the scene. Reports state that police then used the phone to locate the accused man, which led to his arrest and being charged with a crime.

The details of how authorities obtained the phone, precisely where it was found and other allegations tying it to the crime were not immediately apparent. Court documents filed by the police indicate that the man admitted to the sexual assault and taking the victim’s purse. The documents allege that he admitted to leaving the scene on foot while losing his cell phone in the process.

Whether the accused man made the reported confession and, if so, whether it is admissible against him remains for another day. If a confession was involuntarily given, it cannot be used against him. Also, police and press reports regarding an arrest are often issued quickly and the alleged facts gathered loosely without the benefit of a completed investigation.

Just because the accused man is charged with a crime does not mean that he is guilty or that he will be convicted. When one is the subject of a criminal charge in New Jersey, he or she should seek to quickly organize a criminal defense. In many cases, this process will end in a guilty plea that is in the accused individual’s best interest. But this is not always the case; the proper result can only be obtained if the accused individual is fully informed and represented.

Source: The Star-Ledger, “Dropped phone leads to arrest of New Brunswick man on robbery, sexual assault charges,” Bill Wichert, Jan. 17, 2013