TheTrenchcoat Chronicles

Tag: James Zarate

  • James Zarate’s bail reduction denied

    James Zarate’s bail reduction denied

    Judge: No bail change in Randolph teen’s murder:

    It seems that James Zarate, the brother, and accomplice of Jonathan Zarate, won’t be having his bail reduced anytime soon…

    A 15-year-old boy, scheduled to be tried as an adult along with his 19-year-old brother on charges of killing and mutilating neighbor Jennifer Parks a year ago in Randolph, will continue to be held on $1 million bail in the Morris County jail, a judge ruled this morning.

    The defense lawyer for James Zarate unsuccessfully asked Superior Court Judge Salem Vincent Ahto to reduce bail for the youth, who was transferred in June from the county juvenile detention center to the jail after a judge ruled he would be tried as an adult.

    The juvenile is charged with assisting his brother, Jonathan Zarate, in the stabbing, beating and dismemberment of the 16-year-old Parks at her home on Old Brookside Road in Randolph on July 30. The brothers were staying next door at the time at the home of their father.

    Ahto read aloud excerpts of psychological reports that have been done on the juvenile, in which none refer to him as having a mental illness or chemical dependency. But one expert concluded he has little empathy for people, enjoyed getting into fights, and believes the girl’s killing was justified.

    Justified? How in the hell could the murder and dismembering of Jennifer Parks be justified? What possible reason could the little shit have for saying it was justified?

    I can’t wait to hear the explanation behind that.

  • James Zarate goes to adult jail

    James Zarate goes to adult jail

    Teen charged in Randolph murder moved to adult jail:

    The 15-year-old charged with helping his brother murder and sever the legs of 16-year-old neighbor Jennifer Parks in Randolph last year was ordered held in the Morris County jail this morning on $1 million bail.

    Superior Court Judge Salem Vincent Ahto approved the transfer of James Zarate from the county Juvenile Detention Center to the county jail since the youth on June 7 was “waived up” from juvenile status to be tried as an adult.

    Defense lawyer Joseph Ferrante said it would “be a tragedy” if the teen — who was 14 when he allegedly helped his then-18-year-old brother kill Parks on July 30 — was moved to the adult facility. Ferrante characterized the state’s evidence against James Zarate as weak and based upon the statements of a co-defendant and DNA from a piece of chewing gum found in a bag containing supplies used to clean up after the murder.

    “My view is it would not be appropriate for him to be amongst other juveniles,” Ahto said, saying he believes it is in the public’s interest to hold the teen in an adult facility.

    One of the mantras here says if you commit an adult crime you deserve adult time. Have fun in Morris County Lockup.

  • Zarate’s brother to be tried as an adult

    Zarate’s brother to be tried as an adult

    Teen to be tried as adult in Randolph murder:

    Jonathan Zarate’s brother, formerly known as “J.Z.”, will be tried as an adult, for assisting his brother in the killing and dismembering of 16-year-old Jennifer Parks…

    A youth who was 14 when he allegedly helped his older brother maim and murder next-door neighbor Jennifer Parks in Randolph last year will be tried as an adult, a Superior Court judge ruled this afternoon.

    Family Division Judge John B. Dangler ruled that James Zarate, now 15, will be prosecuted as an adult on charges of stabbing and chopping off the legs of the 16-year-old victim on July 30.

    James and his now-19-year-old brother, Jonathan Zarate, are accused of getting Parks to visit their father’s home on Old Brookside Road around 2 a.m. and then ambushing the girl shortly after her arrival.

    Parks’ mother, Laurie Parks, asked the judge to order James Zarate to be prosecuted as an adult.

    “Our loss is complete. We only had one child; now we only have pictures, videos and our memories,” she said.

  • Jonathan Zarate’s brother to undergo psych test

    Jonathan Zarate’s brother to undergo psych test

    New psychiatric test set for boy, 15, in slaying:

    This is an update on the murder of Jennifer Parks. She was bludgeoned, stabbed, and dismembered by her 18-year-old neighbor Jonathan Zarate. His younger brother, known only as “J.Z.” has also been charged with her murder. Prosecutors are looking to have the younger brother tried as an adult, but first, he must undergo a psychiatric evaluation…

    J.Z.’s attorney, Joseph Ferrante, submitted a psychiatric evaluation to Dangler on Friday that said the boy was a good candidate for rehabilitation. But Morris County Prosecutor Ralph Amirata asked the judge to allow him to seek a second opinion. Dangler granted the request, and gave the Prosecutor’s Office a month to have J.Z. evaluated by its psychiatrist.

    A good candidate for rehabilitation? You have got to be kidding me. He assisted in stabbing, bludgeoning and dismembering Jennifer Parks’ body and helped try to dispose of the body in the Passaic River. No, he is not a good candidate for rehabilitation. The only thing he’s a candidate for is a date with the needle.