BREWER, Maine — A father and son who were wanted in New Hampshire for bail jumping were taken into custody in Brewer on Thursday night, according to police.
Edward Janak, 38, formerly of Laconia, N.H., and his son, Brandon, 18, of Laconia, had fled the Granite State to avoid facing jail terms, according to Jeffrey White Jr. of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The elder Janak had been awaiting sentencing on an assault charge from 2007 while Brandon was due to be sentenced for narcotics possession, according to White.
Edward Janak had been on the loose in Brewer since 2007 while Brandon was scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 1, according to Deputy Steve Colcord of the Belknap (N.H.) County Sheriff’s Office.
“We started looking for [Brandon] in mid-August,” said Colcord.
Brandon Janak recently was featured on a Fugitive of the Week segment on several Concord-area TV stations, White said.
The suspects were traced to Brewer, and Detective Fred Luce started an investigation, according to Brewer police Lt. Chris Martin.
“He started trying to track it down and determined these individuals were living in Brewer,” said Martin.
Brewer police, in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department, converged on a Church Street apartment where the suspects had been living, according to White.
Colcord said police were easily able to track down Edward Janak when an arrest warrant was issued for Brandon.
“When we started looking for the son and realized [Edward’s] the dad, we found them together,” Colcord said. “It was worth the ride to head up there and get two at once.”
The elder Janak was taken into custody without incident, but Brandon Janak was found cowering in a hallway.
After realizing he was surrounded, Brandon surrendered to authorities without incident, Martin said.
“Luce spent the day surveilling the place and they picked the right time to grab these two,” Martin said.
Both suspects were charged with bail jumping and transported to the Penobscot County Jail, where they remained Friday morning, pending a court appearance later Friday.
New Hampshire authorities, along with the U.S. Marshals Service, are continuing to investigate what led to the suspects’ escape, and White said further charges could be pending.
Proof positive that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Like father, like son, unfortunately.
Daddies are always proud to have their son follow in their footsteps. :(
What about this brings the US Marshals in? The bail jumping or the leaving the state? Or, are they always involved when someone runs, and we don’t usually hear about them? Just curious. Great job to all involved!
One of the primary functions of the U.S. Marshals Service is the apprehension of fugitives from justice
Ok, that makes sense. Now, what makes a person a fugitive from justice, rather than someone who just has a warrant out for their arrest? The bail jumping?
From ” The Free Dictionary by Farlex”
An individual who, after having committed a criminal offense, leaves the jurisdiction of the court where such crime has taken place or hides within such jurisdiction to escape prosecution.
I appreciate you looking that up. I’m either massively sleep deprived (work nights), or just unable to process for another reason, because that makes no sense to me.
If Billy commits a crime in Dedham, and goes home to Portland before they realize it was him, does that make him a fugitive from justice? According to the definition you found, it does.
Or, is it Billy gets arrested, makes bail, then runs to escape prosecution that makes him a fugitive?
Nevermind, law.com just answered my question-
fugitive from justice-
n. a person convicted or accused of a crime
who hides from law enforcement in the state or flees across state lines
to avoid arrest or punishment.
It’s the fact that they fled the state that brought the US Marshals in.
Thank you for taking the time to help me.
Since both of these guys fleed soon before their sentences, they are considered fugitives from justice.
Bail Jumping: I used to do this all the time on the farm. Didn’t realize it was a crime….
Nice work by Detective Luce and the Brewer PD.
“…but Brandon Janak was found cowering in a hallway.” “Cowering?” Was that word in the police report or just a creative use of “journalistic” license?
This would not have happened if Chuck Norris and the Texas Rangers were on patrole. Nobody and I mean nobody jumps bail when Chuck Norris is on watch!
Chuck is to busy trying to convince people they should be afraid of our government.He hasn’t got time to catch any bad guys.