Blackwood Resident Sentenced To Three Years After Shoplifting Incidents & Methamphetamine Possession Discovered During Motel Search

Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 4:00 P.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ.- A Camden County man has been sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to theft and drug possession charges stemming from a series of shoplifting incidents and a narcotics investigation spanning multiple South Jersey municipalities.

     David J. Arrington, 45, of Blackwood, was sentenced Friday to three years in New Jersey State Prison by the Honorable William F. Zieglar in Gloucester County Superior Court pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, according to court records and statements made during proceedings.

     Arrington was convicted of one count of third-degree Theft, one count of third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and one count of fourth-degree Shoplifting, authorities said.

     According to documents filed in the case and statements made in open court, the charges arose from incidents between July 2024 and July 2025, including retail thefts and a later narcotics discovery.

     Prosecutors said the first incident occurred in July 2024, when Arrington shoplifted approximately $209 worth of merchandise from the Burlington Coat Factory in Deptford Township. Loss prevention personnel reported the theft to police, prompting the initial investigation.

     Nearly a year later, in July 2025, Arrington was involved in another theft at a Walmart store in Washington Township, where authorities say he stole a duffel bag belonging to a store loss-prevention employee. The bag reportedly contained cash, gift cards, and a tablet computer.

     The investigation expanded when law enforcement officers later executed a court-authorized search warrant at the Motel 6 in Monroe Township, where Arrington was located. During that search, officers discovered Arrington in possession of methamphetamine, resulting in additional criminal charges.

     Court filings indicate Arrington ultimately entered a guilty plea, resolving the charges, leading to the sentencing imposed in Gloucester County Superior Court.

     Under New Jersey law, third-degree crimes are punishable by three to five years in state prison, while fourth-degree offenses carry a maximum penalty of up to 18 months of incarceration. Arrington’s three-year sentence falls within the statutory range for third-degree offenses.

     Gloucester County Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns credited the cooperative investigative efforts of several local police departments in bringing the case to a resolution. Authorities said officers from the Deptford Township Police Department, Monroe Township Police Department, and Washington Township Police Department assisted in the investigation that led to Arrington’s guilty plea and sentencing.

     Officials did not immediately indicate whether Arrington will be subject to any additional supervision conditions following his incarceration.

Editor’s Note:

     This article is based on information contained in court filings and statements made during proceedings in Gloucester County Superior Court. Englebrook Independent News relies on official court records and statements from prosecutors and law enforcement agencies to ensure accuracy, transparency, and fact-based reporting.