Division of Gaming Enforcement
John J. Farmer, Jr., Attorney General
John Peter Suarez, Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 2, 2000

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Katherine Lyons (609) 777-2403

Fugitive from Colorado Indicted for Assaulting
New Jersey State Troopers
While Applying for Casino License

ATLANTIC CITY -- Attorney General John J. Farmer, Jr. today announced that Curtis Jackson was named in a five-count indictment for his assault on two New Jersey State Troopers who, knowing he was a fugitive from justice in Colorado, were trying to detain him.

On February 17, 2000, Curtis Jackson, 18, of Mays Landing, began the application process to work in the casino industry. Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) Agent Ron Reighn conducted a routine background check, which showed that Jackson was wanted by the State of Colorado. According to DGE Director John Peter Suarez, as New Jersey State Police assigned to the DGE were fingerprinting Jackson and taking him into custody, he attempted to flee.

According to Director Suarez, Jackson struggled with two State Police detectives to flee the DGE fingerprint room, then fought again with detectives when they caught him in the lobby of the Casino Control Commission, building breaking a plate-glass window. The detectives pursued him out of the building and saw him get into a vehicle from which he was apprehended a short time later.

"His actions endangered the detectives trying to arrest him and the employees working in the building," Director Suarez said.

The indictment, handed up last Thursday, charges Jackson with second-degree Escape, fourth-degree Resisting Arrest, and due to his physical encounters with the detectives while trying to flee, he was charged with two counts of third-degree Aggravated Assault and one count of fourth-degree Aggravated Assault. If convicted on all counts, Jackson faces up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison and fines up to $150,000.

"This case illustrates why we check the backgrounds of all applicants for casino licenses. We are working every day to maintain the integrity of this industry, and keeping criminals out is critical to our success," Director Suarez said.

The case was presented to the Atlantic County Grand Jury by Deputy Attorney General Kerry Menchen of the Division of Criminal Justice, Casino Prosecutions Bureau. It has been assigned to the Atlantic County Superior Court for trial.

An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty.

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