A former Port Republic resident was ordered held in jail after he allegedly stole more than $4,000 from NJ Transit while trespassing at the Atlantic City Bus Terminal.
Rudi Kindervater, 48, allegedly stole a blue courier bag containing receipts and $4,161.60, after he was told to the leave the terminal last Wednesday, according to the charges.
It was after midnight, when only ticketed passengers are allowed inside the terminal, according to the complaint.
Kindervater also was found with identification and credit cards belonging to three other people, the affidavit states.
When law enforcement tried to arrest him, Kindervater fled and then resisted arrest, causing minor injuries to one officer, according to information released at his detention hearing Monday.
Kindervater was just released from jail in November, and has been homeless, defense attorney Hunter Hurst told the judge.
"He's emphasized his desire to be able to contribute to society," she said, as Kindervater appeared to cry. "He wants to be able to get back to his family and get some support to be able to continue his life on the outside."
Hurst said that was why her client was at the terminal, in hopes of getting home. His own identification was expired, so the ones he had were of people working with him to get him help, she said.
The public safety assessment, used to help determine whether a defendant should be held under bail reform, recommended no release, citing a significant criminal history.
At the time of his arrest, Hurst had pending charges that include third-degree aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
His history also extends to Pennsylvania.
Kindervater is a Megan's Law offender stemming from a 2011 conviction for committing sexual acts with a then-9-year-old girl. He was sentenced to nine years in that case with 4½ years of parole ineligibility.
He was released from state prison Feb. 5, 2015, state Department of Corrections records show.
Kindervater is not on the public registry.
He suffers from "significant medical issues," his attorney said Monday, including metal screws in his neck that have become dislodged during his time in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
He will need surgery to have that corrected, which has caused a "significant amount of pain," Hurst said.
Superior Court Judge Dorothy Garrabrant found that there are no conditions that would guarantee Kindervater is not a safety risk or would show up to court, and ordered him held.
He remains jailed.
