Dec. 14, 2015

Montclair Man Sentenced to 50 years for Killing Villanova Student

 Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that the Honorable Carolyn Wright, Judge of the Superior Court, sentenced Ernest Williams, 24, of Montclair, to 50 years in New Jersey State Prison for killing Villanova student Brian Schiavetti, 21, of Ridgefield, Connecticut.

On Nov. 2 Williams was found guilty of aggravated manslaughter, felony murder, robbery, weapons offenses and conspiracy to distribute drugs for fatally shooting Schiavetti on July 22, 2012 in the hallway of a senior apartment building in Montclair. Williams was acquitted of murder.

At trial, Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Naazneen Khan, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Caroline Oliveira, argued that Williams, an admitted drug dealer, lured Schiavetti to New Jersey to rob him. Schiavetti and his friend Connor Gore, came to New Jersey to purchase oxycodone pills. Schiavetti was introduced to Williams by Williams’s co-defendant, James Pitts, Jr., the son of Essex County undersheriff James Pitts.

Pitts and Schiavetti met while they were attending Villanova University. Pitts lived a few doors down from Williams and had known him for about eight years at the time of the homicide.

Pitts testified for the state and was sentenced to one year in county jail for his role.

Today, Judge Wright sentenced Williams to 50 years. Under the No Early Release Act, Williams must serve 85 percent of his sentence, 42 years and six months, before he is eligible for parole.

In imposing sentence Wright noted that while Williams had no felony convictions as an adult, he had been arrested five times as a juvenile and been allowed to enter diversion programs. From the time he turned 18 years old in August 2009 until the time of the Schiavetti’s death in 2012, Williams was arrested 14 more times and was found guilty of disorderly persons offenses in municipal court on six occasions.

Williams has already served 1,237 in jail. He will receive credit for that time.

“This is truly a tragic case. On July 22, 2012 when Ernest Williams killed Brian Schiavetti over $400, he ended the life of a promising young man and destroyed his own life as well,” said Khan. “Brian Schiavetti made a huge mistake coming to Montclair looking to buy drugs but he should not have had to pay for that with his life.’’

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an indictment was returned by the Essex County grand jury charging Ernest Williams, 21, of Montclair of murdering Brian Schiavetti, 21, of Ridgewood, Conn.

Schiavetti was killed in Montclair during an attempted robbery on July 22, 2012. He died from multiple gunshot wounds. His body was found in an apartment building on William Street around 6:40 p.m.

Williams is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges in the indictment on April 2 at 9:00 a.m. before the Honorable Peter J. Vazquez, J.S.C. Williams is currently being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility on bail for $750,000.

Along with murder, Williams was also charged with robbery and weapons offenses.

A second defendant, James Pitts, 22, of Montclair was also indicted. He is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to violate narcotics laws. He will also be arraigned on April 2 before Judge Vazquez.

Assistant Prosecutor Naazneen Khan is handling the case for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

These charges are accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they plead guilty or found guilty in court of law.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray and Montclair Police Chief David Sabagh announced today that Ernest Williams, Jr., 21, of Montclair has been arrested and charged with the murder of Brian Schiavetti, a 21-year-old of Villanova University student from Ridgefield, Ct.

“Our detectives and those the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force have been working around the clock methodically investigating this homicide. I am very pleased with their efforts leading to the swift arrest of the suspect,’’ said Montclair Police Chief Sabagh.

Schiavetti was fatally shot on July 22 at a residence located at 25 Williams Street in Montclair.
The preliminary investigation indicates Schiavetti was killed during the course of a robbery.

Schiavetti died from multiple gun shot injuries. He was pronounced dead at approximately 6:40 p.m. on Sunday, July 22.

Williams has been charged with one count of murder, one count of robbery and two weapons offenses. He is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility on $750,000 bail. Bail was set by the Honorable Joseph Cassini, 3rd, J.S.C.

These are accusations. All defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until they plead guilty or are found guilty in a court of law.