Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today that Kyon Coleman, 20, of Newark pled guilty to one count of witness tampering and two counts of second degree aggravated assault before the Honorable Martin G. Cronin, Judge of the Superior Court.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, he is expected to be sentenced to seven years for witness tampering and five years for aggravated assault when he is sentenced on Jan. 5, 2018, according to Assistant Prosecutor Sean Dickson, who handled the plea.
The charges and guilty plea arise from an incident that occurred on the night of Oct. 25, 2016. Coleman shot a 15-year-old girl on Eagles Parkway in Newark. The girl was in the company of another girl. The 15-year-old was injured. The other girl did not sustain any injuries. Coleman also shot a male and shot at another male on Lincoln Street in the city of Newark. The two that were injured were taken to University Hospital. They survived their injuries but Coleman was charged with four counts of aggravated assault. Coleman pled guilty to two counts.
After the shooting incident Coleman attempted to tamper with witnesses who had given statements identifying him as the shooter.
“Witness tampering is a serious crime that undermines the administration of justice. We hope the final disposition of this case will make clear that such cases will be taken seriously by our office and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Dickson.
Under the No Early Release Act, Coleman must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. When he is released from custody, he will also be on parole supervision for another three years.
UPDATED 7:22 P.M.