A homeless juvenile arrested in late October for burglarizing several address on East Bergen Place turns out not to be a minor after all, Red Bank Police say they have learned.
Ismael Rojas-Vela turns out to be 19 years old, according to a birth certificate obtained by investigators from Mexican authorities. He had told cops who arrested him that he was 16.
But the suspect is still believed to be homeless.
At least until his case is resolved, though, Rojas-Vela’s temporary address is now the Monmouth County Jail, to which he was transferred from the county’s Youth Detention Center, after the discovery of his apparently true age.
Capt. Steve McCarthy tell us the outreach to Mexico was made by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office because the suspect had no ID when he was arrested and gave conflicting dates of birth.
Burglary and other charges against Rojas-Vela have now been amended to reflect his adult status, and now include an additional one: hindering his own apprehension by lying about his age.
Municipal Court Judge William Himelman has set bail at $136,500.
