Belleville Man Sentenced To Jail For Robbing Newark Gas Station

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A Belleville resident was sentenced to several years in state prison for robbing a gas station in Newark last year, authorities announced Wednesday.

Jose Rivera, 58, was sentenced to seven years in New Jersey State Prison for second-degree robbery, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, which released the following statement about the incident:

“On July 8, 2022, Rivera, 58, of Belleville, was convicted by an Essex County jury of second-degree robbery of a gas station in Newark. On Sept. 18, 2021, Rivera entered the gas station on Pennsylvania Avenue in Newark with another person. Rivera used force to demand the gas- station attendant hand over all the money he had on him. The attendant gave Rivera $850 in cash. He took the money and fled the scene, and the second suspect was never identified.”

“In this case, because of the defendant’s 17 prior convictions, the state sought an extended-term sentence,” prosecutors said. “The court denied the state’s motion and sentenced the defendant to seven years in New Jersey State Prison.”

According to prosecutors, as robbery is a No Early Release Act offense, Rivera must serve 85 percent of his seven-year sentence before being eligible for parole. In addition, pursuant to the No Early Release Act, he will be on parole supervision for three years after his release from custody.

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