Mahanoy teen accused in gunpoint carjacking, robbery has charges held for court
MAHANOY CITY – A 17-year-old is in Schuylkill County Prison, charged as an adult and accused of carjacking and robbing a man at gunpoint in Mahanoy City.
Jahmeir Nahkye Amante, 17, of 1417 East Market Street, was charged as an adult on Sept. 9 with numerous felony charges, including robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, aggravated assault, among others.
He was arraigned on Oct. 8 and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $100,000 bail. At a preliminary hearing Thursday, the victim of the robbery testified and the charges were bound for Schuylkill County Court.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Mahanoy City Police Patrolman Derek Weicikosky, the robbery happened on Oct. 25, 2023 around 2:30am.
A man said he was waiting to pick up a friend from a party when two men asked him to give him a ride.
He agreed and as they travelled along Centre Street towards Main Street, one man produced a handgun and instructed him to drive. The other held a knife to the man’s throat.
The victim was told to drive to the end of East Vine Street, where he was told to get out of the vehicle. He was then patted down and told to hand over his phone.
They then stole the man’s 2018 Hyundai Elantra and drove south on Main Street towards the Pottsy Hill. Attempts to ping the phone’s location were unsuccessful.
Police then contacted the dealership the victim purchased his car from to use the GPS tracker, which located the vehicle at 12th and Market Street in town.
The vehicle was promptly impounded and processed by the Pennsylvania State Police Forensic Services Unit.
DNA swabs and fingerprints were taken and on August 30, 2024, fingerprints were identified to Amante and an arrest warrant was issued.
He is currently awaiting trial.
The second assailant has not yet been identified or charged.
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