<p>Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III, Chief John Kuczynski, and New Jersey State Police Perryville Station Commander Lt. Colin Frinzi announced the arrest of one individual on theft charges following a joint investigation by detectives from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police.</p>
<p>According to Prosecutor Kearns, “Johnny Martell Jr., age 23, of Philadelphia, PA, was arrested on October 2, 2016, in Lambertville, and charged with Theft by Deception and Receiving Stolen Property, both third degree crimes. A joint investigation revealed Mr. Martell used the online classified advertisement website, Craigslist, as a tool to sell stolen property.</p>
<p>Bail was set at $15,000 by the Honorable Judge Eric Perkins, JMC. Mr. Martell was lodged in the Somerset County Jail awaiting his first court appearance.</p>
<p>Prosecutor Kearns added, “While online marketplaces like Craigslist and Ebay expand the markets that sellers and buyers can use to buy, sell or trade property, engaging in sales with strangers over the Internet increases the odds of falling prey to deceptive persons.”</p>
<p>Lambertville City Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department also assisted in the investigation and arrest of the Mr. Martell.</p>
<p>The filing of a criminal complaint is merely a step in the criminal justice process. The defendant is presumed innocent until the matter is resolved in a court of law.</p>
<p>Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-321-0010 or by going to www.crimestoppershunterdon.com, or text messaging “HCTIPS” plus your tip message to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters can also download the free mobile app “Tipsubmit” and select Hunterdon County to submit anonymous tips via text messaging. All tips are anonymous and kept confidential.</p>
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<p>For press releases visit our website at http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/prosecutor/press.htm</p>
