Morris Prosecutor: Three Morris County Men Charged in Home Invasion in Victory Gardens

Published on October 26, 2018

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Morris County Prosecutor's Office Chief of Investigations Stephen F. Wilson, Jr., New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, and Rockaway Borough Police Chief Conrad Pepperman announce the arrest of three males in connection with a home invasion robbery that occurred on Sunday evening, Oct. 21, in Victory Gardens.

Carlos Rodriguez, 22, with a last known address in Victory Gardens; Victor Hernandez, 19, with a last known address in Rockaway Borough; and Marlon Martinez, age 23, also with a last known address in Rockaway Borough, each have been charged with first degree Robbery, second degree Burglary, and second degree Conspiracy to commit Robbery. An additional charge of third degree Terroristic Threats also was authorized against Rodriguez.

It is alleged that on the evening of Oct. 21, Rodriguez, Hernandez, and Martinez entered a residence located in Victory Gardens through a closed, but unlocked, front door. The residence was occupied by the leaseholder and two guests. It is alleged that Hernandez and Martinez were both armed with weapons, specifically a baseball bat and a knife.

Upon entering the residence, it is alleged that Rodriguez opened a closet and removed a safe. It is further alleged that Rodriguez then instructed Hernandez and Martinez to demand the safe key from the leaseholder/victim and to threaten to kill all three occupants of the residence. It is alleged that the victim turned over the key, as well as a gold necklace he was wearing, at which point the three defendants fled the scene.

On Tuesday, Oct. 23, all three defendants were taken into custody pursuant to this ongoing investigation. Rodriguez was taken into custody in Dover, while Hernandez and Martinez were taken into custody in Rockaway Borough.

Multiple law enforcement agencies have been actively involved in this investigation, including the New Jersey State Police, the Rockaway Borough Police Department, and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit.

If anyone has any information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to call the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor's Office at 973-285-6200.

Any inquiries can be directed to Morris County Prosecutor's Office Public Information Officer Peter DiGennaro at 973-829-8159 or pdigennaro@co.morris.nj.us.