A Plainfield man has been charged with attempted murder and numerous related offenses after being found to be responsible for a recent shooting and in possession of large quantities of drugs and three firearms, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Thursday.
Johnpaul Martin, 20, was arrested late Wednesday night at his home on East Ninth Street in Plainfield.
Detectives in that area to investigate recent incidents of violent crime in Plainfield performed a search of Martin’s vehicle and home that turned up nearly an ounce of cocaine, five marijuana plants, and three handguns, including one that had been reported stolen, according to Julie Peterman, supervisor of the Prosecutor’s Office’s Guns, Gangs, Drugs, and Violent Crimes Task Force.
An intensive joint investigation led by the Plainfield Police Division revealed that Martin also had been responsible for a shooting that took place shortly after midnight on Sunday, August 17 in the area of West Fourth Street and New Street in Plainfield. The victim, a Plainfield resident, was struck by gunfire in the lower body, suffering non life-threatening injuries, and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Martin has been charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree possession of a weapon during the course of committing a drug offense, a second-degree certain persons charge, second-degree possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, third-degree receiving stolen property, third-degree possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and fourth-degree possession of a defaced firearm. State Superior Court Judge Scott J. Moynihan set bail at $550,000, and Martin is expected to have his first appearance in court in the coming days.
First-degree crimes typically are punishable by sentences of 10 to 20 years in state prison, while second-degree crimes carry typical penalties of 5 to 10 years.
These criminal charges are mere accusations. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.