Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on June 5, 2023, Marquis Belnavis, 29, of East Orange, pled guilty before the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., to Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute and Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer in connection with events that occurred on July 9, 2021, in Toms River. At the time of his sentencing on July 28, 2023, the State will be seeking four years New Jersey State Prison (NJSP) relative to these charges. Belnavis also pled guilty to Distribution of Cocaine in connection with an incident that occurred on November 10, 2021, also in Toms River. At the time of sentencing, the State will be seeking three years NJSP relative to this charge. Finally, Belnavis pled guilty to Distribution of Cocaine in connection with a series of incidents that occurred in Ocean Gate and Stafford Township between July 28, 2022 and August 31, 2022. At the time of his sentencing, the State will be seeking seven years NJSP as to this charge. All sentences are to run concurrently.
On July 9, 2021, Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Team were conducting narcotics related surveillance when they observed transactions indicating that Belnavis had distributed narcotics to another individual. Detectives thereafter conducted a motor vehicle stop of a 2018 Nissan Altima in which Belnavis was a passenger. Belnavis was found to be in possession of a quantity of heroin. As Officers were placing Belnavis in custody, he attempted to flee and bit one of the Officers on the hand. Belnavis was taken into custody and transferred to the Ocean County Jail. He was subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
On November 10, 2021, Officers from the Toms River Police Department Special Enforcement Team were conducting narcotics related surveillance on a residence. Belnavis was observed going to and from the residence. A subsequent investigation revealed that Belnavis had distributed cocaine to an occupant of the residence. Belnavis was taken into custody and transferred to the Ocean County Jail. He was subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Ocean Gate Police Department, and Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit, revealed that Belnavis was distributing cocaine in the Stafford Township and Ocean Gate areas between July 28, 2022 and August 31, 2022. On September 2, 2022, Belnavis was taken into custody at a residence in Ocean Gate. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since his arrest.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Toms River Township Police Department, Toms River Township Police Department Special Enforcement Team, Stafford Township Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, Ocean Gate Police Department, and Barnegat Township Police Department Crime Reduction Unit, for their collective assistance in connection with these investigations leading to Belnavis’ guilty pleas, and soon his state prison sentences.