2 Men Indicted in Lawrence Home Invasions: Prosecutor

Two men have been charged in three home invasions in the Avalon Run apartment complex in Lawrence in 2015, Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said.

John Gaines, 23, and Righteous Laster, 20, both of Trenton, were indicted by a Mercer County Grand Jury on 37 counts this week.

Gaines was named in 35 of counts, connected to all three home invasions. He was charged with multiple counts of carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, weapons offenses, criminal restraint, burglary, theft and terroristic threats.

Lester was named in 16 counts related to one of the three incidents. He was charged with carjacking, kidnapping, robbery, weapons offenses, criminal restraint, burglary, theft and terroristic threats.

Police allege that on Aug. 12, 2015, Gaines and Lester entered a first-floor apartment in the Avalon Run complex through an unlocked sliding door.

They held the occupant at knifepoint while they scoured his apartment, police said.

They then allegedly forced the occupant into his own car took him to two ATM machines and forced him to withdraw money. They took him to Trenton and released him, unharmed, according to police.

Gaines returned to the apartment complex on Sept. 9, 2015, and knocked on a door in Building #6, police said. When a man opened the door, Gaines allegedly entered the apartment carrying a handgun.

Gaines took the man to a nearby bank and forced him to withdraw money from his account, police allege. Gaines then drove the man to Trenton and fled on foot, leaving the man unharmed.

The final incident took place on Sept. 14, 2015, when Gaines allegedly repeated his actions of five days earlier.

This time, he forced four people into the rear room of an apartment in Building #2, police said. Gaines left about 10 minutes later, leaving the four people unharmed.

Laster was arrested on August 24, 2015. Gaines was arrested on October 10, 2015, by members of the Lawrence Police Department and the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force. Both men remain in jail on bail.

The attached images of John Gaines and Righteous Lester were provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office