Suspect Arrested in Avalon Run Home Invasions
The New York and New Jersey Regional Task Force and the Lawrence Police Department arrested a suspect on Oct. 5 who allegedly took part in a series of home invasions at the Avalon Run apartment complex in Lawrence.
John Gaines, 23, of Trenton, has been charged with kidnapping, armed robbery, carjacking, burglary, theft by extortion, theft, criminal restraint, making terroristic threats, and unlawful possession of a handgun for a home invasion that took place on Sept. 9 in building no. 6 at the apartment complex. He faces similar charges for a home invasion that took place in building no. 2 on Sept. 14 and building no. 3 on Aug. 12.
For the Aug. 12 case, Gaines has also been charges with kidnapping and credit card theft. Co-defendant Righteous Laster, 20, of Trenton was arrested Aug. 24.
Bail for Gaines has been set at $900,000 and he is being held at
the Mercer County Correction Center until his trial date.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.