June 2, 2004

TRENTON MAN INDICTED FOR ABDUCTION ATTEMPTS  

TRENTON — A Trenton man accused of trying to abduct young girls from local department stores was charged today in multi-count indictments stemming from two separate files, Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. announced. 

West Windsor police arrested JOSEPH J. DAMICO, 41, of the 700 block of Chambers Street, on October 10, 2003, after he approached a 4-year-old Lawrence girl in the Wal-Mart store in Nassau Park.  A shopper who witnessed the incident prevented Damico from fleeing the scene and held him until police arrived. 

Damico was indicted on charges of criminal attempt to commit kidnapping (second degree), criminal attempt to commit luring or enticing a child (third degree), criminal attempt to commit interference with custody (third degree), criminal attempt to commit endangering the welfare of a child (third degree), possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (third degree) and unlawful possession of a weapon (fourth degree) in the October incident. 

Two weeks later, on October 28, 2003, Damico was charged for a May 18, 2003 incident at the Target store in the same shopping center.  He was indicted today on charges of criminal attempt to commit kidnapping (second degree), criminal attempt to commit luring or enticing a child (third degree),

criminal attempt to commit interference with custody (third degree), terroristic threats (third degree), criminal attempt to commit endangering the welfare of a child (third degree), possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (third degree) and unlawful possession of a weapon (fourth degree) in relation to the May incident. 

The grand jury also charged Damico with criminal attempt to commit kidnapping (second degree), criminal attempt to commit luring or enticing a child (third degree), criminal attempt to commit interference with custody (third degree), criminal attempt to commit endangering the welfare of a child (third degree) and stalking (fourth degree) for an incident occurring at the Wegmans supermarket in Nassau Park sometime between April and May 2003.  The indictment alleges that Damico attempted to snatch the same individual who was the victim of the Target incident. 

Prosecutor Bocchini commended the young victims for immediately reporting these incidents to their parents.  He also applauded the unidentified shopper responsible for detaining Damico. 

“This brave man did a huge service for Mercer County.  He sets a tremendous example for our citizens, and has my utmost admiration and respect,” Bocchini said. 

Mercer County Superior Court Judge Charles A. Delehey raised Damico’s bail to $1 million in November 2003 and ordered he undergo a 30-day psychiatric evaluation.  Damico is currently in the Mercer County Correction Center in lieu of $1 million bail. 

Assistant Prosecutor Robin Scheiner, chief of the Child Abuse/Sexual Assault Unit, presented the case to the grand jury.  Scheiner stated that the indictments were the result of a true team effort and praised the West Windsor police, the New Jersey State Police and investigators with the prosecutor’s office for their in-depth investigation.   

Despite having been indicted, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.