3 Plead Guilty In Armed Home Invasion: Morris Co. Prosecutor

VICTORY GARDENS, NJ — Three men have pleaded guilty of their roles in an armed home invasion in 2018 in Victory Gardens, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp said.

Victor Hernandez, 20, Marlon Martinez, 23, both from Rockaway Borough, and Carlos Rodriguez, 22, all entered guilty pleads in February for their roles in the robbery, Knapp said.

According to Knapp, the three men broke into a home through an unlocked, but closed, door the night of Oct. 21, 2018. Hernandez and Martinez were armed with a metal bat at the time, Knapp said.

Rodriguez allegedly took a safe out of the closet, and three people in the home to either turn over the key, or be killed by Hernandez and Martinez. The homeowner handed over the key, as well as a gold necklace, and the three accused fled, Knapp said.

All three were arrested two days after the robbery, on Oct. 23.

Hernandez and Martinez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and both will face up to three years in prison. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to armed robbery, and will face up to five years in prison. All sentences will be subject to the No Early Release Act, meaning they must serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.