Superior Court Judge Michael Petrolle today sentenced Ali Muhammad Brown - accused killer of Brendan Tevlin - to 36 years and six months in state prison for one of the robbery cases.
Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Jamel Semper, who tried the case, believed Brown should receive life sentence, equivalent to 75 years in prison. "His criminality represents a clear and present danger to the citizens of Essex County," said Semper, adding that "the need to deter this defendant is overwhelming."
Judge Petrolle stated that taking into consideration Brown's criminal record, it only shows a "descending progression" from property crimes to violent crimes.
Therefore, Brown was sentenced to 35 years for the first-degree robbery charge and two weapons offenses, and an 18-month prison sentence for the charge of unlawful possession of hollow point bullets. According to sentence, both must be served consecutively.
On Nov. 17, Brown, 31, while wearing a mask, approached the male victim sometime around 6 a.m. as he opened the door to his vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 200 Mount Pleasant Avenue in West Orange.
After Brown stole the man's belongings, he ordered the victim to get inside the trunk of the victim's vehicle before Brown took off.