Teens facing felony murder charges in Asbury incident
Victim died after allegedly knocked unconscious during a robbery
Two teenagers are now facing felony murder charges in connection with an alleged assault and robbery early Saturday morning in Asbury Park.
The victim, Brick resident Thomas Sudano, 35, died on Tuesday after being taken to the hospital for treatment. The two suspects — Spencer Young, 19, Asbury Park and a 17-year-old juvenile — were initially charged with first degree robbery.
Young and the juvenile allegedly punched and kicked the victim about his head and body, rendering him unconscious, according to a new release issued by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. The two suspects then allegedly stole personal items from Sudano, according to Gramiccioni.
Today the charges were upgraded to felony murder, Gramiccioni said.
The following is the complete news release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office detailing the arrest, allegations and charges:
Two teens are in custody and facing charges of Felony Murder after the Ocean County man the pair assaulted and robbed early Saturday morning died Tuesday evening, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.
Asbury Park Police received a 911 call at about 12:30 a.m. on Saturday July 27, 2013 on a report of an individual being assaulted Police responded to Asbury Park Gardens, 1100 Atlantic Ave. in Asbury Park where they discovered the victim unconscious. The victim was later identified as Thomas Sudano Jr., 35, of Brick. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where he died on Tuesday, July 30.
An investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Asbury Park Police Department revealed that Sudano arrived at the apartment complex shortly before 12:30 a.m. on July 27, and was confronted by Spencer S. Young, 19, of 1141 Sewall Ave. in Asbury Park, and a 17-year-old juvenile male. During the confrontation, Young and his juvenile co-defendant punched and kicked Sudano about his head and body rendering him unconscious. As part of the assault, the pair also stole personal items from Sudano.
Young was initially charged with first degree Robbery, but charges were upgraded to Felony Murder today, after it was determined that Sudano died as a result of the injuries inflicted on him by Young and his juvenile co-defendant. The juvenile was also charged today with one count of Felony Murder.
The juvenile, who is charged with Felony Murder and Robbery, was turned over to juvenile detention authorities where he is presently in custody. Young is presently housed at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of 1,000,000 bail with no ten percent option, which was set by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen.
Anyone with information on this case should contact Detective Edwin Hennelly of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443 or Detective Steven Ramseur of the Asbury Park Police Department at 732-502-4587.
A conviction of Felony Murder carries a maximum sentence of life in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA). A conviction for first degree Robbery carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years in New Jersey State Prison, which is also subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act (NERA). NERA requires a defendant to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for parole.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
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