Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Troy Oswald announce that George C. Berry, 30, of Paterson, was arrested following the issuance of an Amber Alert for the abduction of his infant child. He is charged with Burglary, Second Degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Second Degree, and Aggravated Assault, Third Degree.
Officials said at approximately 7 a.m. today, Paterson Police responded to a domestic violence incident where suspect George Berry entered his child’s mother’s home by breaking in her door, assaulting her and then taking their ten-month-old infant without the mother’s permission.
The suspect then fled the area in a vehicle with the infant.
According to authorities, by approximately 11 a.m. the child was recovered, after being turned over to a third party by the suspect, and was unharmed. Due to the domestic violence allegations, specific information regarding the victim and child cannot be released.
Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office CART team, in conjunction with the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit and the Paterson Police Department, worked collaboratively and apprehended the suspect at approximately 12 p.m. in Paterson.
The sentencing exposure for Mr. Berry on Second Degree Burglary is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 85% to be served before parole, pursuant to the No Early Release Act, and 3 years of parole supervision; on Second Degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison; on Third Degree, Aggravated Assault is 3-5 years New Jersey State Prison.
Officials said George C. Berry is scheduled to appear at Central Judicial Processing on May 31, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. The State will file a motion for pretrial detention in this matter that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.