Uncle Detained In Nephew's Gloucester Twp. School Bus Death

CAMDEN, NJ - A Camden County Judge ordered Troy Nokes of Blackwood – the uncle of a 12-year-old boy who was found unresponsive on a school bus and later died of an overdose – to be detained pending trial.

Special Victims Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Testa said during a detention hearing in Camden County Superior Court today that Nokes has four previous adult convictions for drug distribution. She also called him “an extreme danger to the community.”

In the days leading up to the 12-year-old boy's death, a witness alleged he saw “Nokes mixing something up in the blender” while in the presence of the 12-year-old, according to Testa.

“Nokes opened the top of the blender and smoke or dust was coming out. Then Nokes blew it into the air and said quote: ‘You all going to be high,’” Testa continued.

The witness also said Nokes made the 12-year-old boy clean off some of his supplies, according to Testa.

Nokes’ attorney, Timothy Wright, said his client should be released from prison pending further court action, stating his client “has family all over” the Camden County area.

His client's “prior failures to appear are older and most recent one is from 2014,” Wright said. “Then you have to go back 15 years and then, even more, to get the next most recent failure to appear.”

A first-degree conviction on some of the counts Nokes was charged with on March 21 — aggravated manslaughter, strict liability drug-induced death or maintaining a drug production facility — that Nokes faces carry a life sentence, Testa said during Wednesday’s hearing.

Nokes was also charged on March 21 with employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme, six counts of endangering the welfare of a child, six counts of witness tampering, one count of tampering with evidence, two counts of hindering apprehension, two counts of aggravated assault and seven other related charges, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office and Gloucester Township Police Department.

The judge denied Wright’s request that Nokes be released.

“Based on all the evidence that has been presented …. I find the state has met its burden by clear and convincing evidence,” Joyce said.

Joanna Johnson, who was charged on March 21 with tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension of Nokes, was also in court Wednesday.

Her attorney requested that his client be released from prison.

“She has no prior criminal history, Your Honor,” Frankie Fontanez said during the hearing. “She's been sitting in jail now for four or five days. She knows what it feels like. She doesn't want to go back to this place ever.”

Joyce granted Fontanez’s motion, so long as she meets several requirements, including not contacting any of the witnesses to the alleged crimes, checking in with the court once a month and letting the court know if she moves.

Nokes’ and Johnson’s next court dates are scheduled for mid-June.

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