A Bridgeton man who was involved in an escape from Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center in the fall of 2017 pleaded guilty to several charges Thursday and will be spending several years behind bars.

The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office says 20-year-old Michael Huggins pleaded guilty to second degree escape and two counts of second degree burglary. As part of the terms of a plea agreement, Huggins will serve 6 years, must serve 85% on one burglary, consecutive to 6 years, must serve 85% on the second burglary, both subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), consecutive to 6 years for the second degree Escape, for a total sentence of 18 years in New Jersey state prison.

On November 15, 2017, four teenagers assaulted a staff member of Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center and escaped by stealing another staff member’s car. After the teens crashed the car, they fled on foot and burglarized two homes in Egg Harbor City. One burglary was of an unoccupied home, during which Huggins and his co-defendants stole a rifle and clothes. Armed with the loaded gun and additional ammunition stolen from the first home, Huggins and his co-defendants burglarized a second home that was occupied at the time by a woman and her two children. Several hours later, three of the youths were captured in Bridgeton. Huggins was apprehended the following day in Atlantic City.

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