Two Charged With Robbery at East Main Street Motel

On January 16, 2021, at 1145 hours, Newark Police responded to the Super 8 Motel at 268 East Main Street for a report of a robbery.  Responding officers contacted a male victim at the scene.  The victim, a patron of the motel, reported that he was walking through the parking lot when he heard a female calling for help from one of the motel rooms.  The victim went to the room to investigate and was grabbed by a male suspect and pushed into the room.  Once inside the room, the male suspect held a knife to the victim’s throat and the victim was ordered to provide his personal property.  A female suspect in the room took personal property from the victim and then both the male and female suspects left the room.  The victim then chased the suspects through the parking lot, but was not able to catch up to them.

The victim suffered a minor injury from the knife which did not require medical attention.

Newark Police Detectives reviewed motel records and available video from the motel.  They also spoke with witnesses at the scene.  Detectives were able to identify the suspects as John Levan Jr., 49, of New Castle and Jusinda Welch, 50, of Wilmington.  Warrants for their arrest were obtained that day.

On January 17, 2021, Levan and Welch were located by Newark Police at the West Motel in Bear and were taken into custody without incident.

Both suspects were transported to Newark Police headquarters where they were charged with Robbery First Degree, Aggravated Menacing and Conspiracy Second Degree.  Both suspects appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #11 by video.  Levan was ordered to be held in default of $56,000 cash bail. Levan was turned over to the custody of the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington.  Welch was ordered to be held in default of $65,000 secured bail. Welch was turned over to the custody of the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution in New Castle.