Man To Be Tried As Adult For Alleged Murder He Committed When He Was 17 In Atlantic County: Prosecutor

A Gloucester Township man charged in the shooting death of a Pleasantville teenager will be tried as an adult despite being 17 years old at the time of the alleged crime, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Diane Ruberton said on Friday.

Isaiah J. Newsome is charged with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon in the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy whose body was found in the Max Manning Park in Pleasantville on Aug. 7, 2015.

An ensuing autopsy determined the cause of death was multiple gunshots, and was ruled a murder.

The three-month investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit Detective James Scoppa and Pleasantville Police Department Detective Sergeant Christopher Taggart led to Newsome’s arrest.

The Gloucester Township Police Department assisted in the arrest, which occurred without incident at Newsome's school in Sicklerville.

Initially, Newsome, who is accused of shooting the victim three times with a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, was lodged in the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center in Egg Harbor City. He was then moved to the Atlantic County Justice Facility, where he has remained in custody on juvenile delinquency charges.

On Friday, Atlantic County Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Judge Susan F. Maven granted the motion of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, which sought the waiver of jurisdiction of the case to the Atlantic County Superior Court, Criminal Division.

As a result, the charge for murder is upgraded to a first-degree charge; possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose is upgraded to a second-degree charge; and unlawful possession of a weapon is upgraded to a third-degree charge.

He is also being charged with first-degree involvement in criminal street gang activity.

The complaint warrant was issued and bail set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Patricia M. Wild at $750 full cash, no 10 percent option.

Detectives served the warrant to Newsome at the Atlantic County Justice Facility.