Leonard Ludwigsen
The mastermind behind an Egg Harbor Township armed robbery that turned deadly pleaded guilty Monday.
Leonard Ludwigsen, now 30, admitted that he was in a car outside the Vermont Avenue home Jan. 2, 2020, when Neco Pitts and a still-unnamed co-conspirator went inside armed with a gun.
Arturo "Arty" Barrera III, 24, was fatally shot.
Ludwigsen and Pitts were arrested 14 months later.
For the first time, the actual target of the robbery was named in court.
The plan was to rob Tyler Antorino, Ludwigsen said in his admission.
"What property were you trying to steal or take?" the judge asked. "Cash, money, drugs? All of those things?"
"Yes," Ludwigsen replied. "Whatever was available."
It was a slightly different motive than Ludwigsen gave at his plea in August. He claimed that they were there to steal drugs and resell them.
Instead, Barrera was shot. Pitts said he shot at the victim's legs. He pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and is currently serving a 15-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison.
Neco Pitts (N.J. Department of Corrections)That's the same amount of time Ludwigsen faces for his plea to first-degree robbery.
Both could have their sentences reduced to 12 years if they name the second shooter, and they either testify at trial or he pleads guilty.
Ludwigsen previously told detectives he was the getaway driver, but that statement was thrown out after defense attorney Lou Barbone successfully argued that a detective failed to "scrupulously honor" his right to remain silent.
Ludwigsen had been set to go on trial next month.
After the plea Monday, Ludwigsen's attorney argued for him to be released for 30 days.
He wants to be able to see his son, who was 6 at the time of his arrested in 2021, and is now 10, Barbone said.
"He doesn't know his son anymore," Barbone said, pointing out that Ludwigsen had no prior criminal convictions.
Ludwigsen would stay with his mother and stepfather in their Egg Harbor Township home, he said.
"The defendant's intent on that day was exclusively that of robbery," Barbone said. "While he knew Neco Pitts possessed a weapon, it was never his design, intent or imagination that anyone would die that night."
But it was Ludwigsen's plan, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy said.
"I feel for the son," Levy told the judge. "The problem is that was due to the defendant's own actions."
Ludwigsen should have to face those consequences, he said.
Arturo Barrera III"The Barrera family sitting behind me certainly has to face the consequences of this defendant's actions because they have no choice but to visit a gravesite instead of visiting somebody else's home to see their son," he said. "If not for this defendant, we would have no crime, and no death."
It was Ludwigsen who suggested the robbery to someone who owed him money, Levy said.
"As a way to clear that debt, this defendant put in motion a plan to rob somebody at gunpoint," he said. "And bad things happen when you break into somebody's house with a gun with the intent to rob them."
Judge Bernard DeLury agreed with the state that Ludwigsen should remain jailed pending his sentencing set for Feb. 4.
Ludwigsen would have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence, or 12 years and nine months for 15 years. He has been jailed for three years and nine months, leaving about nine years on his sentence.
He then would have five years of parole supervision.
