$1M bail stands for Paulsboro murder suspect

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$1M bail stands for Paulsboro murder suspect

Friday, July 08, 2016

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WOODBURY N.J. (July 8, 2016)--Darnell L. Samuels (7/19/82), of Pennsville NJ was denied any reduction today (7/8) in his $1 million bail in connection with the 6/20/16 fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jonathan Gardner, of Paulsboro.

Citing a criminal record of six felony convictions including robbery and weapons offenses, and the possibility of a life sentence if convicted in the current case, Superior Court Judge Kevin T. Smith said the present bail at the top of the range for a homicide was “clearly appropriate.”

While Samuels’ attorney argued for a bail reduction to between $250,000 and $300,000, noting that he had been a longtime Gloucester County resident and had surrendered to police after learning he was charged

with Gardner’s murder, Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Kate Mika said the current maximum bail was justified given the facts of the incident she described to the court and Samuels’ criminal history. The 6/20 shooting occurred after a fight between the victim and defendant at a Pine Street residence in Paulsboro with several witnesses present, Mika said.

Samuels is charged with first-degree murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon by a person not legally permitted to have a firearm. The latter three charges are all second-degree crimes.