A 40-year-old man with a criminal record spanning over a decade and including nearly 150 arrests has been apprehended again in Queens, New York, for a series of thefts. However, due to New York State's current bail laws, which prohibit setting bail for non-violent offenses like petty larceny and burglary, he was released without bail shortly after his latest arrest.
Shaquan Seth, whose prior arrests include charges for burglary, larceny, and drugs, was released from Rikers Island on June 11 after serving a five-month sentence for a November robbery and burglary case. He pleaded guilty to felony grand larceny in May, receiving a six-month sentence for which he was credited for time already served. Sources indicate that law enforcement officials expressed frustration with the situation, questioning the logic of releasing a repeat offender without bail shortly after incarceration for similar crimes.
He is now facing charges for five alleged incidents that occurred between June 17 and August 5. During these incidents, Seth is accused of stealing items including approximately $600 worth of Threshold candles from a Target store on Jackson Avenue in Queens. Records and sources suggest this particular store has been a frequent target of his alleged shoplifting activities. In one instance on August 5, he allegedly took candles without paying and then threatened a store clerk, though no weapon was displayed.
Seth's extensive criminal history dates back to 2009. Beyond larceny and burglary, his rap sheet includes charges for resisting arrest and assault on a police officer. Sources report that he has been held in jail 67 times previously. The notes also mention that Seth has been the victim of two shootings in separate incidents in 2008 and 2016 following disputes.
Following his most recent arrest, Seth was taken to Elmhurst Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. He was subsequently arraigned on the new charges and released. The Queens District Attorney's Office confirmed that the current charges are not eligible for bail under state law.