Man Acquitted Of 2 Murder Counts, Convicted Of Conspiracy In South Jersey

BRIDGETON, NJ — A man was acquitted of two counts of murder Wednesday after standing trial in a double-homicide case in Cumberland County. But the jury returned a guilty verdict for conspiracy.

The case stems from a 2015 incident in Vineland in which two people died from gunshot wounds and a third sustained injuries, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office. Michael R. Loftin, Jr. was convicted of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder following the 12-day trial. But he was acquitted of two counts of first-degree murder and one count apiece of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon — all second-degree offenses.

Loftin, 28, of Cincinnati, faces 10-20 years in state prison, with an 85 percent parole disqualifier. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 27.

Co-defendent Sheldon Goldsborough was also charged in the matter and is currently pending trial.

In March 2015, several shots were fired on the 100 block of West Grape Street in Vineland, the prosecutor's office said. Officers found four people inside the victim's vehicle, according to law enforcement.

Damien Mills died at the scene, the CCPO said. Kevin Peterson, who suffered four gunshot wounds, died at the hospital, according to the law-enforcement agency. The prosecutor's office says a third victim was shot in the leg, while a fourth was unhurt.

Officers found a flip phone near the shell casings and the victim's vehicle, the prosecutor's office said. After examining the phone's contents, certain phone numbers led law enforcement to a Vineland home where Loftin lived. Authorities swabbed the phone for DNA, which returned a positive match to Loftin, according to prosecutors.

Loftin was charged in June 2015. He's currently in the Cumberland County Jail.