Kidnap and Assault Charges Lead to Guilty Plea in Ocean County
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October 22, 2024Kidnap and Assault Charges Lead to Guilty Plea in Ocean County
Kidnap and Assault Charges Lead to Guilty Plea in Ocean County
According to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, on October 21, 2024, Quamel Benton, 36, of Farmingdale, pled guilty to Attempted Kidnapping, two counts of Eluding, and Criminal Sexual Contact, all in connection with incidents that occurred on March 21, 2024 - continuing into the early morning hours of March 22, 2024 - in Lakewood and Toms River.
At the time of his sentencing on December 6, 2024, the State will be seeking a term of seven years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP), subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, as to the Attempted Kidnapping charge, five years NJSP as to each of the Eluding charges, and 18 months NJSP as to the Criminal Sexual Contact charge. The Attempted Kidnapping charge and one of the Eluding charges are to run concurrently; the Criminal Sexual Contact charge and the second Eluding charge are to run consecutively.
On March 21, 2024, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department responded to the area of Forest Park Circle for a report of an attempted kidnapping.
Responding Officers learned that a male suspect driving a smaller model white SUV had attempted to pull a teenage girl into his vehicle. The victim was able to break away from the suspect and ran back to her residence; the suspect then fled the area in his vehicle. A subsequent investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and Lakewood Township Police Department resulted in law enforcement obtaining a description of the suspect as well as the vehicle he was operating.On March 21, 2024, at approximately 9:00 p.m.,Toms River Police responded to the Target parking lot on Hooper Avenue in Toms River for a report that a female had been sexually assaulted.
Responding Officers learned that a male suspect had approached a female victim and grabbed her in an inappropriate manner. The suspect then fled the parking lot. Toms River Police Officers were able to identify and follow the suspect fleeing from the Target parking lot, and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The suspect, who was traveling at a high rate of speed and driving erratically, entered the Garden State Parkway northbound. As such, Toms River Police Officers terminated the pursuit. The Officers were, however, able obtain the registration number for the vehicle. Officers thereafter learned that the individual believed to be operating the vehicle, Quamel Benton, was a person of interest in connection with an aggravated assault that occurred earlier on March 21, 2024 in Willingboro Township, Burlington County. Through continuing investigation, law enforcement was able to confirm that the description of the suspect in both the Lakewood and Toms River incidents matched that of Benton.
On March 22, 2024, at approximately 12:40 a.m., Toms River Township Police were notified that a male suspect was attempting to enter a vehicle occupied by a female.
Toms River Township Police Officers responded to the scene, which resulted in the Officers positively identifying Benton as the suspect trying to enter the vehicle. Benton attempted to flee the area; a motor vehicle pursuit ensued, which ultimately resulted in Benton losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a utility pole in the area of Route 70 and Whitesville Road. A foot pursuit then ensued, and Benton was subsequently apprehended and taken into custody.
