Three men and two women have plead guilty to the November 2016 robbery-turned-murder of Amber Dudley, a Lyft rideshare passenger. Ronderrick Manuel, Dominque Richter, Andrew Alston, Douglas Mathis, and Kasey DeZolt all opted to plead guilty instead of heading to trial. All but Richter received prison sentences.
The Murder
On the evening of November 30, 2016, a Lyft rideshare vehicle stopped in the area of Mechanics and East Trenton. Manuel approached the car and attempted to rob a male passenger at gunpoint. During the exchange Manuel’s weapon discharged, hitting Amber Dudley in the chest. She later died of her injuries. Police investigated the crime and determined that 5 people were involved in the robbery scheme gone wrong, and all 5 were arrested for murder.
The Perpetrators
The lone gunman was Rodderick Manuel, a Trenton resident with a criminal history. He pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter, and will spend 30 years in prison. The purported mastermind of the scheme Kasey DeZolt pleaded guilty to first-degree accomplice liability robbery. The prison time for this crime is usually between 10 and 20 years, but the state prosecutor’s sentenced DeZolt under the second-degree guide. Subject to New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, she will be required to serve at least 85% of her 8 year sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Andrew Alston, another Trenton resident, was sentenced to a 16 year prison term for his role in the robbery. He plead guilty to one count of first-degree aiding and abetting robbery. Douglas Mathis pleaded to one count of second-degree of the same crime. The judge sentenced him to 7 years behind bars. The final person implicated, Dominique Richter, received the lightest punishment. She plead guilty to third-degree conspiracy to commit theft. The judge sentenced her to 5 years of non-custodial probation.
Contact The Experienced NJ Criminal Defense Attorneys Today
If you or someone you know is accused of a crime, contact the Davis Law Firm LLC today. We are a brother-sister team and have over 20 years of combined legal experience representing clients in the areas of criminal defense, traffic violation defense, and family law. We guide you through the process with your best interests in mind and will work hard to get you the best outcome possible. If English is not your first language, we work with Spanish translators to make sure you understand exactly what is going on. Our office is located in the Five Points section of Hamilton, New Jersey, but we serve clients across New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. Contact us by phone for an appointment today! We offer free consultations for criminal defense cases. You can also get in touch by filling out our online contact form and we will get in touch as soon as possible. The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
