Chesterfield Township, NJ – A 23-year-old inmate from East Orange has been charged with murder after authorities say he fatally assaulted another prisoner inside the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility in Burlington County.
According to the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Trevor Banton, 23, was charged on July 21 with first-degree murder in the death of fellow inmate Yasin Sellers, 24.
The charge stems from an incident that occurred four days earlier inside the state correctional facility in Chesterfield Township.
Assault followed prison religious service
The investigation began on July 17 after correctional officers responded to a disturbance inside the prison gymnasium shortly after a religious service attended by multiple inmates.
When officers arrived, they found Sellers lying unresponsive on the gymnasium floor.
Despite emergency response efforts, Sellers was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators determined during the preliminary investigation that Sellers collapsed after being assaulted by Banton.
Authorities have not disclosed what led to the altercation or whether any other inmates were involved.
Murder charge filed
Banton has been charged with one count of first-degree murder.
A first appearance in Burlington County Superior Court in Mount Holly is expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks.
Following that hearing, prosecutors will prepare the case for presentation to a grand jury, which will determine whether to return an indictment allowing the case to proceed toward trial.
If convicted of first-degree murder in New Jersey, a defendant faces one of the state’s most serious criminal penalties.
Joint investigation by prosecutors and corrections officials
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey Department of Corrections Special Investigation Division.
Lead investigators were BCPO Detective Ian Boltz and BCPO Detective Kevin Smith.
Assistant Prosecutor Robert Van Gilst, who supervises the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, will handle the prosecution.
Violence inside correctional facilities remains a significant safety concern for correctional staff and inmates alike. Prosecutors routinely investigate inmate deaths to determine whether criminal charges are warranted, even when the alleged offenses occur within the prison system.
As with all criminal cases, the charge against Banton is an accusation, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Where did the incident occur?
The assault occurred inside the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility in Chesterfield Township following a religious service held in the prison gymnasium.
Who was charged?
Trevor Banton, a 23-year-old inmate from East Orange, has been charged with first-degree murder.
Who was the victim?
The victim was identified as 24-year-old Yasin Sellers, who was pronounced dead at the correctional facility after the alleged assault.
What happens next?
Banton is expected to make his initial appearance in Superior Court before the case is presented to a Burlington County grand jury for possible indictment.
The homicide investigation highlights the ongoing challenges correctional officials face in maintaining safety inside New Jersey’s prison system. Fatal assaults inside correctional facilities are investigated as criminal homicides and prosecuted in the same manner as offenses committed outside prison walls.
Sources
- Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office
- New Jersey Department of Corrections Special Investigation Division
