An appellate court Monday upheld the conviction and 18-year sentence of a former Newark man, who killed another man in a 2006 shooting at a Newark bar.
Shaheed Ervin, 29, after pleading guilty on Sept. 9, 2008 to the killing of Brian Hodges, 20, of Irvington, claimed he received ineffective legal assistance.
Ervin claimed he was forced to plead guilty by his attorney, who he claims was unprepared for his trial, according to the appellate decision.
However, appeals court claims when Ervin entered the guilty plea, he stated that he wanted to avoid additional prison time, and testified that no one threatened or coerced him to plead guilty and he was satisfied with the legal services of his plea counsel.
On April, 24, police responded to the Oasis Bar on South Orange Avenue in Newark for a shooting. Upon arrival, police found Hodge suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
Investigation later revealed that Hodges and Eddie Grady (a friend) were inside the bar playing pool, when Ervin entered the bar and opened fire killing Hodges and wounding Grady in the right hand and left leg.
Ervin, who was later identified as the gunman, was arrested at his Pomona Avenue home. When Ervin entered his guilty plea, he admitted walking into a bar armed with a 357 revolver and firing five shots.