Charges Dropped Against Men Accused Of Killing Brendan Tevlin

Authorities have dropped charges against two West Orange men accused of killing 19-year-old Brendan Tevlin of Livingston in 2014.

• See related article: Livingston Teen’s Killing Outside West Orange Apartment Shocks Community

Jeremy Villagran, 19, and Eric Williams, 18, both of West Orange, had been charged with felony murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

On Thursday, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed all charges against the two men related to the case.

“Based on the evidence and the information we have at this time, we believe this is the appropriate course of action,’’ Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray stated in a release on Thursday.

However, authorities announced a precedent-setting indictment against Ali Muhammad Brown, 30, of Seattle, Washington, charging him with terrorism in addition to Tevlin’s murder.

• See related article: Accused Murderer Charged With Terrorism