ATTORNEY GENERAL PRESS RELEASE:
SOMERVILLE — Acting New Jersey Attorney General Ricardo Solano Jr. and Division of Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced that former NBA basketball player Jayson Williams pleaded guilty today (Monday, Jan. 11) to aggravated assault in the shooting death of limousine driver Costas “Gus” Christofi.
Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault before Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman, according to Director Gramiccioni. The state amended the indictment against Williams, changing the remaining reckless manslaughter charge to a charge of aggravated assault by recklessly causing bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon.
Williams faces a mandatory sentence of 18 months in state prison without possibility of parole on that aggravated assault charge under New Jersey’s gun laws. In addition, the state will recommend under the plea agreement that he be sentenced to five years in state prison on the four charges of which he was convicted at trial in 2004 related to his attempt to cover up the shooting.
The sentences will run concurrently. Williams agreed not to appeal his trial conviction. Judge Coleman scheduled sentencing for Williams for Feb. 23.
Deputy Attorney General Steven Farman took the guilty plea for the Division of Criminal Justice. Judge Coleman denied a motion filed last week by the state to revoke Williams’ bail, but imposed additional bail conditions. Williams is free on $250,000 bail. The judge made it a condition of bail that Williams not consume any alcohol and that he check in daily with probation officers. Williams was charged with drunken driving last week after crashing his SUV in Manhattan. A judge in New York ordered Williams to wear an electronic bracelet that monitors his perspiration to detect if alcohol is consumed. Judge Coleman ordered that Williams’ attorneys arrange to have authorities in New York who are monitoring the bracelet alert authorities in New Jersey if the condition is violated.
Williams was convicted at trial of four of the eight charges in the indictment: tampering with a witness, tampering with evidence, fabricating evidence, and hindering apprehension or prosecution. He was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. The jury did not reach a verdict on the reckless manslaughter charge. The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office handled the trial. The Attorney General’s Office superseded the case in October at the prosecutor’s request.
Dennisville – As a parent of a Tech student it would be great if the school would update their staff directory. So many old staff still listed and no new teachers listed. What gives?
