Rico A Cintron, 23, was arrested for a variety of drugs and weapons charges – then released and FREE TO GO under NJ Bail Reform the same day – but was held on two small Camden City municipal warrants which were cash or bail bond only.
On April 20, Cintron was booked into the Salem County Correctional Facilty on the following charges;
- Manufacturing and Distribution of Heroin
- Possession of a Large Capacity Ammo Magazine
- Certain Person not to have weapon (felon)
- Possession of a Weapon while committing a drug crime
- Possession of a Defaced Firearm
- Unlawful Possession of a Handgun
- Possession of Drug
Cintron was released the same day on a “pinky promise” per NJ Bail Reform guidelines – with ZERO accountability.
Unfortunately for Cintron, he had two outstanding small municipal warrants out of Camden City Municipal Court that were cash or bond only. Bail Reform does not apply to municipal warrants. It took Cintron two more days to be released because he had to bond out on those charges. Yes, monetary bail.
Surprise New Jersey! How does NJ Bail Reform help those “stuck in jail solely because they can’t afford a small monetary bail” again?
What say you Judge Grant?
What say you Alexander Shalom of the ACLU of New Jersey? (we know you’re a fan, don’t be shy)
Shhh…don’t tell anyone but the municipal court fines and other charges imposed on offenders for disorderly persons cases are serious cash cows for the 565 municipalities in the state. Do you think they are going to let you out for free? No way! Only if you get charged with something serious (such as possession of a defaced firearm, sexual assault, aggravated assault on police officer, child porn, etc.) do you get a free ticket out of jail with no accountability.
Well, the good news is…if Cintron had to use a commercial bondsman for the two municipal warrants – justice will be served…at least on his two Camden City warrants. If Cintron, while being actively monitored by the bondsman, should fail to appear – he will be apprehended and brought to answer his charges at no cost to the taxpayer. ZERO DOLLARS.
Should Cintron violate his conditions of release on the more serious charges, nobody is on the hook. Nobody will be held accountable. Nobody will have any obligation to aid in his apprehension. Who picks up the bill? The taxpayer.
By the way…he was paroled in 2014.
You’ve been LIED to New Jersey…NJ Bail Reform is RECKLESS, DANGEROUS, and YOU are PAYING for it.
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.