Red Bank Man Among 3 Accused Of Witness Tampering In Robbery Case

FREEHOLD, NJ – Three people have been charged with attempting to bribe a witness in a pending robbery case, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said Tuesday.

James Williams, 32, of Red Bank; Hideia Bouie, 21, and Ameer Washington, 27, both of Neptune Township, all are charged with second-degree witness tampering, he said. If convicted, they each face a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in state prison.

James Williams is currently under indictment, charged with first-degree armed robbery arising from a Feb. 18 incident in Asbury Park, Gramiccioni said.

A subsequent investigation by the Monmouth County prosecutor’s office revealed that Williams arranged to have Bouie and Washington approach the victim in that robbery case and offer the victim money to recant his story, he said.

If convicted of the original charge of first-degree armed robbery, Williams faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison with mandatory 85 percent parole ineligibility under the No Early Release Act.

The three accused are currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold Township and Gramiccioni said the prosecutor's office is seeking to have all three held pending a trial on these charges. Those hearings are scheduled for Nov. 29, 2017, before a Superior Court judge, he said.

Williams is also currently detained on his prior robbery charge.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Caitlin Sidley. Williams is represented by John Perrone, Esq., Red Bank. Bouie is represented by Jeffrey Coghlan, Esq., of Freehold. Washington is represented Lisa Maglone, Esq., of Freehold.

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