Millburn ‘Nanny Cam Intruder’ Not Guilty of Murder, Convicted Of Assault and Robbery

Millburn, NJ – A Newark man captured on a nanny cam breaking into a Millburn home and brutally beating a woman in 2013 was acquitted of attempted murder but convicted of assault, burglary and robbery charges, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, a jury convicted Shawn Custis, 45, of aggravated assault, criminal restraint, burglary, robbery, theft and endangering the welfare of a child after a six-week trial.

Custis was acquitted of attempted murder, prosecutors stated in a news release.

According to prosecutors, on June 21, 2013, Custis broke into a Millburn home, assaulted a female resident, then stole her husband's watch, her wedding rings, a necklace, a cell phone and a baby monitor.

Prosecutors said that during the home invasion, Custis beat the woman unconscious, then threw her down the basement stairs as her three-year-old daughter sat on the living room sofa watching and her 18-month-old son was asleep in an upstairs bedroom.

The victim sustained a concussion, chipped teeth, an injured lip, facial swelling and leg injuries, prosecutors previously said.

• See related article: Grand Jury Indicts Accused Nanny Cam Home Intruder

The assault was captured on a nanny camera, which aided investigative efforts because Custis “walks with an unusual gait” due to a bad leg, prosecutors said.

In addition, four women – including two that claimed to have dated Custis – identified him as the attacker, prosecutors stated.

According to prosecutors, Custis refused to come into the courtroom to hear the jury’s verdict.

Assistant Prosecutor Jamel Semper said he will seek the maximum prison sentence because Custis has a dozen prior convictions, including burglary, theft and a prior home invasion.

Custis was previously convicted of crimes in Mercer, Middlesex, Union and Burlington counties, prosecutors stated.

Prosecutors said that sentencing is scheduled for June 29; Custis potentially faces life in prison.

• See related article: Brutality Of Home Invasion Captured On Nanny-Cam Shakes Millburn

ALLEGED RACIAL SLURS

A Millburn police officer who was at the scene was allegedly caught on the home's nanny cam using racial slurs against Custis, who is African-American, according to an April report on NJ.com.

Millburn Detective Collin McMillan, who is Caucasian, can be heard saying racial slurs three times in the video, reports NJ.com. At one point, McMillan allegedly referred to the attacker as a "monkey."

Another Millburn police officer who was at the scene said he did not recall hearing McMillan say the slur at the time and said in court it was "completely shocking" to hear it captured on the nanny cam.

• See related article: Officer Caught on Nanny Cam Using Racial Slurs: Report

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File photo: Flickr Commons, woodleywonderworks