North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Assault & Weapons Offense

Sunday, March 2, 2025, 9:00 A.M. ET. 1 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ.- On Friday, February 28, 2025, Leon Ragland, also known as “James Biddle,” 58, a North Carolina resident currently detained in the Atlantic County Justice Facility, appeared in Atlantic County Superior Court and pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Joseph Levin to third-degree Aggravated Assault; and third-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose.

     According to Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds, in return for the guilty plea, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office will recommend that Ragland be sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison.

     Following entering his guilty plea on Friday, Judge Levin accepted the plea and scheduled Ragland to be sentenced on August 1, 2025. Judge Levin also ordered Ragland to remain detained pending sentencing.

Police Officers Observe Ragland Running Down The Street With Knife

     The guilty plea stems from an incident that began on August 23, 2024, when members of the Atlantic City Police Department observed Ragland running with a knife near the intersection of Ohio and Arctic Avenues in the City. While detaining Ragland, Police Officers were flagged down by a victim, who reported to Police Officers that Ragland had asked the victim for cigarettes. When the victim refused, Ragland swung a knife in the direction of the victim, narrowly missing them. 

     The victim was uninjured in the attack, and following the initial investigation, Police Officers arrested and charged Ragland with assault and multiple weapons offenses.