Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic Police Chief Luis A. Guzman announce that based upon an investigation by the Passaic Police Department, in conjunction with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Robert Williams, 29, from Passaic, was arrested in relation to a shooting that took place that same morning in the area of 180 Columbia Avenue Passaic NJ.
Police say Mr. Williams is charged with Aggravated Assault, Second Degree; Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, Second Degree; Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, Second Degree, Possession of a Prohibited Device Hollow-point bullets, Fourth Degree; Possession of a Defaced Firearm, Fourth Degree; and Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, Second Degree.
According to police, on December 16th at approximately 5:28, a.m. members of the Passaic Police Department were dispatched to the area of 180 Columbia Avenue on a report of a shooting.
Upon arrival the Police located a 23-year-old male from Plainfield, N.J., who had sustained a non-fatal gunshot wound.
The victim was immediately transported to Saint Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson for treatment of a non-fatal gunshot wound.
The sentencing exposure for Mr. Williams on Second Degree, Aggravated Assault is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with a minimum of 85% before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act; on Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with a minimum of 42 months before parole eligibility pursuant to the Graves Act; on Second Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 42 months of parole ineligibility pursuant to the Graves Act; on Fourth Degree Possession of a Prohibited Device Hollow-point bullets is 18 months New Jersey State Prison; on Fourth Degree Possession of a Defaced Firearm is 18 months New Jersey State Prison; and on Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with a minimum of 42 months before parole eligibility pursuant to the Graves Act
The State intends to file a motion for Pretrial Detention in this matter that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge on December 20, 2018.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact Detective Edward Valentin of the Passaic Police Department at 973-365-3936 or the Passaic Police Department main number at 973-365-3900.