Prosecutor: N.J. Female Carjacker Jumps Bail, Feds Join The Search
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- U.S. Marshals are searching for a carjacker who viciously attacked a woman before stealing her vehicle.
As CBS 2's John Slattery reports, in this case, the suspect is a woman.
The suspect on the run is Latoya Campbell of Newark. Defense Attorney Garrett Fruchtman said bail jumping like this has never happened before at his law firm.
"This is the first time a client has not shown up for a verdict in a case," Fruchtman said.
Campbell, who was out on bail and one day away from a guilty verdict, got excused from court for medical reasons.
"The jury ended up convicting her on four of five counts. She was not present, no," Fruchtman said.
Prosecutors said she faked an illness to jump bail and not surprisingly she wasn't at her home. The carjacking took place at the Newport Center Mall in Jersey City in October of 2008.
The 36-year-old victim was getting into her car, when she was approached by two young women. Slattery spoke to the victim's mother.
"They took her keys, pummeled her. They punched, bloodied her nose, her eyes, all blooded, everything," Lily Capan said.
The accomplice was a juvenile. Campbell was freed on $100,000 bond.
"By her fleeing, obviously, the jury came to the correct conclusion that she was guilty," Assistant Prosecutor Seth Galkin said.
"I think it's a very silly thing for her to be on the run right now. And she should turn herself in as soon as possible," Fruchtman said.
Campbell has the U.S. Marshals looking for her and a bail bondsman. That's a lot of attention for a person who just turned 21.
Campbell faces 10 to 30 years for carjacking, and could get another five years for bail jumping.
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