Junior Nunez
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Department Officer-In-Charge Isa Abbassi announce that based upon an investigation by the Paterson Police Department, Junior Nunez, 33-years-old from Paterson, New Jersey, was arrested in connection with a kidnapping and carjacking investigation that occurred on June 27, 2024. Junior Nunez is charged with Kidnapping, First Degree; Carjacking, First Degree; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Second Degree; Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Second Degree; Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons, Second Degree; Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Third Degree, and two counts of the Disorderly Persons Offense of Simple Assault.
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 10:39 p.m., members of the Paterson Police Department responded to the area of Piercy Street and Holsman Street on a report of a carjacking and kidnapping. Upon arrival, officers were notified that a 34-year-old female Paterson resident and her 2-year-old child had been carjacked and kidnapped at gunpoint. Based on the investigation, police identified Junior Nunez as the assailant and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On June 28, 2024, at approximately 6:53 a.m., members of the Paterson Police Department arrested Junior Nunez without incident. The victims were found in good health.
The sentencing exposure for Junior Nunez on First Degree Kidnapping is 15 to 30 years in New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act (“NERA”) and 5 years parole supervision; on First Degree Kidnapping, it is 10-30 years in New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the term to be served before parole eligibility; on Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with a minimum of 42 months before parole eligibility pursuant to the Graves Act; on Second Degree Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 42 months of parole ineligibility pursuant to the Graves Act; on Second Degree Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 5 years of parole ineligibility; on Third Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child it is 3 to 5 years in New Jersey State Prison; and on each count of Disorderly Persons Simple Assault, it is up to 6 months in county jail.
The State has filed a motion for the pretrial detention of Junior Nunez, which will be heard by a Superior Court Judge.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Paterson Police at 973-321-1342.