N.J. man wanted in homicides to be extradited to home state

HOULTON – A New Jersey man and reputed gang member wanted as a fugitive from justice in his home state will not fight extradition and will be taken back to the state in which he was charged.

Kareem M. Singleton, 21, of Trenton, N.J., was arrested Wed-nesday afternoon and has been held without bail at the Aroostook County Jail on the fugitive warrant since. The warrant came out of New Jersey, where Singleton is wanted in connection with four homicides in Trenton.

He was arrested at the Loring Job Corps Center in Limestone, where he had been a student in the masonry program for about a month.

Aroostook County District Attorney Neale Adams said Friday’s hearing was held to identify Singleton as the man wanted by investigators and to determine his decision on extradition.

Dressed completely in white and with his hands and legs shackled, the 5-foot, 11-inch, 300-pound Singleton told Superior Court Justice E. Allen Hunter that he wished “to go back to New Jersey and to fight this charge.”

Hunter speculated that Singleton would most likely be back in New Jersey within 30 days. He will remain at the Aroostook County Jail until that time.

Aroostook County Sheriff James Madore said Singleton is believed to be a ranking member of an inner-city gang known as the Bounty Hunter Bloods. Singleton also is known by his nickname, “Red Bear.”

The gang members were reportedly linked to the firebombing of 24-year-old Rasheen Glover’s home in Trenton. Glover, along with his two daughters, Janaya Glover, 6, and Jyasia Watson, 7, died after Rasheen Glover ran back into his burning home to try to save his two daughters.

Authorities said Kelvin Barnes, 18, of Trenton allegedly bought the gasoline and bombed Glover’s home because the victim “publicly disrespected” the gang member during a continuing dispute over drugs.

After the fire, Singleton and other gang members allegedly helped Barnes flee Trenton and escape to Delaware. Barnes was arrested in that state and extradited to New Jersey to face murder charges.

Singleton was the last of the 11 suspects sought in the triple homicide.

The fourth murder victim was Denneshia Ledbetter, 22, who reportedly was shot to death by gang members in April. Ledbetter was believed to be the rival of one of the gang’s ringleaders, according to authorities in New Jersey.

The violence is alleged to have occurred during a crime spree last year.

In New Jersey, Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. said in a statement that the Bounty Hunter Bloods were responsible for “terrorizing the city of Trenton with murder and mayhem during the early months of last year.”

The Superior Court warrant seeking Singleton’s arrest came to the sheriff’s department from Mercer County.

Madore said the information about Singleton being at the Job Corps Center came to them from the U.S. Border Patrol and the Central Maine Violent Crimes Task Force.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.