Lakewood Man Faces Life In Prison After Armed Robbery Conviction

A Lakewood man was convicted of armed robbery Monday, with a jury finding that he held up a man outside his township residence and then fled from police.

In the case, authorities said Antonio Jones, 36, held up and robbed a man outside the victim's home the night of Feb. 7, 2012, then led officers on a foot chase about 30 minutes after the robbery when he was spotted by township police officers.

During the foot chase, Jones was observed by police to have discarded several items, which were later revealed to be a ski hat, a leather jacket - as the victim had described the robber wearing - and a novelty handgun covered by a black sock.

When he was being processed at police headquarters, authorities said, Jones was found to be in possession of a unique coin - a shekel - that the victim had carried in his wallet for many years.

With Jones' conviction secured, prosecutors will now be making an application to have him sentenced to life imprisonment without parole under the state's so-called Three Strikes Law due to his prior criminal record, said Al Della Fave of the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

Det. Thomas D'Elia, Ptl. Steve Kowaleski, Ptl. Joseph Prebish, and now-Sgt. Eric Miick were the Lakewood officers involved in the arrest and investigation, according to Della Fave. Ocean County Sherriff’s Department CIU Detectives Eric Skieczius and John Anderson processed the scene and the defendant. Troopers from the New Jersey State Police also testified at Jones' trial, with Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Michelle Armstrong representing the state.

Jones has been incarcerated since the time of his arrest, Della Fave said.