By: Richard L. Smith
An East Orange man has been charged in connection with the death of a fellow inmate following an alleged assault inside the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility in Burlington County.
According to information released by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, 23-year-old Trevor Banton has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old Yasin Sellers.
Authorities said the investigation began on July 17 after a disturbance broke out inside the prison gymnasium following a religious service attended by multiple inmates.
Correctional officers responding to the incident found Sellers unresponsive on the floor. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators allege that Sellers collapsed after being assaulted by Banton during the altercation.
Banton was formally charged on July 21.
He is expected to make his first appearance in Superior Court in Mount Holly, where the case will later be presented to a grand jury for possible indictment.
The investigation is being conducted by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Corrections Special Investigation Division.