Man Sentenced To 55 Years In Jail In 2013 Murder Of Brick Man

FREEHOLD, NJ – A Monmouth County man has been sentenced to 55 years in jail for the murder and robbery of a Brick Township man in July 2013, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Jahmir K. Bouie, 21, of Asbury Park, was sentenced Friday by Superior Court Judge Ronald Lee Reisner to a term of 55 years in state prison and must serve at least 46 years, 9 months of that before becoming eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act, according to a news release from the prosecutor's office.

Bouie’s co-defendant, Spencer Young, was sentenced Sept. 9 to 50 years in prison, the release said.

Bouie was found guilty by a Monmouth County jury on Oct. 19 of one count each of second degree robbery, first degree felony murder, and first degree murder for the murder of 36-year-old Thomas Sudano, Jr. of Brick Township, officials said.

The charges stem from July 27, 2013, when Sudano was found unconscious, in cardiac arrest and without any neurological responses on Atlantic Avenue in Asbury Park after Asbury Park police responded to a report of an unconscious male.

During the trial, it was learned that Sudano took a taxi from Brick to Asbury Park to meet with Bouie shortly before midnight in order to purchase narcotics. Bouie and Young met with Sudano at the McDonald’s on Route 35 in Neptune Township before Bouie and Young lured Sudano into a housing complex in Asbury Park with the intentions of robbing him.

At trial, a witness testified he observed both Bouie and Young with the victim around midnight. The witness testified that without provocation or warning, Bouie and Young assaulted Sudano, punching, stomping and kicking him. Sudano attempted to flee from his attackers but fell to the ground unconscious. As Sudano lay motionless, Bouie and Young continued their assault, kicking and punching Sudano about his head and body. They stole Sudano’s cellular phone and money before fleeing the area and leaving Sudano lying unconscious in the street.

Young was found in possession of Sudano's cellphone in Asbury Park three days after the assault. Cellular telephone records revealed that the phone was in constant use by Young from 12:26 a.m. on July 27, 2013 until he was taken into custody by police on July 30, 2013.

The investigation revealed that Bouie was operating his girlfriend’s vehicle to transport the victim to the scene of the crime and using her cellular telephone to make arrangements with the victim prior to his murder. Bouie was taken into custody on July 31, 2013.

Sudano died on July 29, 2013, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune Township. The Medical Examiner’s Office determined his death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head and neck and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Hoda Soliman and Lawrence Nelson. Jahmir Bouie was represented by Robert J. Konzelmann, Esq. of Howell.

Image via Shutterstock