FREEHOLD – A Monmouth County grand jury has returned a 4-count indictment charging a Neptune Township woman with the November 2016 murder of her boyfriend, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Monique Moore, 24, is charged in the indictment with first degree Murder, third degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, fourth degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and third degree Hindering Apprehension.
Neptune Township Police responded to a series of 911 calls around 11:02 p.m., on Sunday, November 27, 2016. The 911 calls reported a stabbing at an apartment within Building 1 of 1130 Heck Ave. Upon arrival, police located the victim, Joseph A. Wilson, 29, of Neptune, unresponsive and lying on the ground outside the Moore’s apartment. Wilson was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center with a single stab wound to the chest. Wilson was pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m., on Monday, November 28, 2016.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Neptune Township Police launched a joint investigation into the incident. It was determined Wilson was stabbed by Moore during an argument inside her apartment.
If convicted of Murder, Moore faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring her to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. She would also be under parole supervision for five years following his release from state prison.
If convicted of Murder, Moore faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in a state prison during which time she would be ineligible for parole, and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, subject to the “No Early Release Act,” and must serve 85 percent of any sentence imposed in excess of 30 years prior to becoming eligible for parole.
If convicted of either of the third degree charges, Moore faces a sentence of three to five years in state prison. If convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Moore faces up to 18 months in state prison.
Moore is currently released on bail after posting $200,000 on December 8, 2016.
The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Danielle Zanzuccki and Joseph Cummings. Moore is represented by Michael Chazen, Esq., of Freehold.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
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Monique Moore Indictment document