Robert Sciarrino/The Star-LedgerJose Carranza, who was arrested yesterday in
connection with the triple-homicide in Newark, is lead out of the Essex
County Courthouse today.

In a courtroom filled with family members, Jose Larchire Carranza pleaded
not guilty this morning to three counts of murder, attempted murder,
robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and weapons possession in the
execution-style murders of three college students behind a Newark elementary
school Saturday night.

During the proceedings, Larchire Carranza's lawyer, Felix Lopex-Montalvo,
said the defendant is an illegal immigrant from Peru.

"My client has no documentation," said the lawyer, Felix Lopez-Montalvo.

Since his surrender yesterday, federal immigration authorities have placed a
detainer on Larchire Carranza, requiring that immigration authorities be
notified if the 28-year-old is ever released from custody, said Adam
Puharic, a spokesman for a spokesman for the federal Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agency.

In a news conference after the arraignment, Essex County Prosecutor Paula
Dow and other officials would not comment on reporters' repeated questions
about whether prosecutors had reported Larchire Carranza's illegal status to
federal authorities after his two previous arrests for serious crimes.

The federal government encourages, but does not require, local authorities
to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement when they arrest someone who
appears to be in the country illegally.

Larchire Carranza, who lives in Orange, wore an orange jumpsuit and showed
no emotion as he sat in court with his hands cuffed and communicated via a
Spanish-speaking translator.

Families of both the suspect and the victims filled the courtroom, though
they said nothing. Mayor Cory Booker, Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow and
Sheriff Armando Fontoura were also in court.

Larchire Carranza's bail was continued at $1 million.

After the proceeding, sheriff's officers escorted the victims' kin out of
the courtroom. Then, Larchire Carranza's mother and brother were led out.
None spoke with the press.

Larchire Carranza, who lives in Orange with his wife and a daughter
described as 1 or 2 years old, was facing two sets of criminal charges even
before police identified him as a suspect in the Newark triple murder.

Court records show he was charged with aggravated assault and weapons counts
stemming from a bar fight last October.

In the more serious case, he was charged as Jose Larchire, with repeatedly
raping a girl over a four-year period.

The assaults began when the child was almost 5 years old, according to an
indictment handed up last month. The alleged attacks ended in January.
Larchire Carranza was free on bail and awaiting trial in both criminal cases
when he turned himself in Thursday.

--
What we find is that the surge has troops going into areas, where for 4 1/2
years we have not seen our military in action. Naturally, they are routing
out al Qaeda in those areas. That's a good thing.
-- Sen. Dick Durbin