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An Asbury Park man with an extensive prior criminal record was sentenced Friday to a 65 year sentence for the 2014 box cutter armed robbery and witness tampering, Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni has announced.

Mario Figueroa, 44, was found guilty in December before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Vincent N. Falcetano, Jr. Figueroa had several disruptive outbursts during a two-week long trial, resulting in Judge Falcetano ordering him removed from the courtroom, officials said.

He was convicted him of first degree armed robbery, fourth degree unlawful possession of a weapon, third degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second degree aggravated assault, second degree witness retaliation, and two counts of first degree witness tampering for crimes committed against the victim and witnesses of the armed robbery after the incident, officials said.

The conviction stems from Figueroa’s Oct. 21, 2014 armed robbery attack at the corner of Main Street and Sewall Avenue.

In an effort to steal a victim’s wallet, Figueroa armed himself with a box cutter, held it to the victim’s neck, forced him to the ground and stole his wallet, officials said.

Detective Sean DeShader of the Asbury Park Police Department Street Crimes Unit, patrolling in the area at the time, observed Figueroa running away from the scene.

While awaiting trial in Monmouth County Jail, Figueroa encountered a witness to the robbery and assaulted him for giving a statement to the Asbury Park Police Department. His attack left the witness with permanent vision damage, officials said. Figueroa then went attacked a second witness by sending dozens of threatening letters in an effort to interfere with that person’s testimony and cooperation.

Due to his prior criminal record, Figueroa became eligible for an extended sentence. His 30-year conviction for armed robbery requires Figueroa to serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole, officials said.

He also was sentenced to two additional prison terms of 20 and 15 years, respectively for each of the witness tampering charges, which must be served consecutively, officials said.

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Martha Nye, and Figueroa was represented by John Sheehy of Toms River.

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