Shaun Woodson, 25, of East Orange entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment today. Reginald Anthony, 29, also of East Orange entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment yesterday.

Last month an Essex County grand jury returned a nine-count indictment charging Anthony and Woodson with the April 14, 2010 murder of Mr. Nevius. They are also charged with felony murder, burglary, robbery, conspiracy and weapons offenses. Woodson was also charged with resisting arrest.

Anthony was hired as a fill-in chauffeur to drive Janet Nevius, the victim’s wife, to New York City for an overnight trip. It is alleged the two defendants beat, strangled and stabbed Nevius. Police discovered Mr. Nevius’s body the next day when he missed an appointment. Local police officers made a welfare check on the house after a friend became concerned.

It was only the second time Anthony had driven for the family. His aunt, the regular chauffeur, had worked for the family for 2 years. Prior reports erroneously indicated she had worked for the family for 12 years.

Assistant Prosecutor William G. Neafsey, who is handling the case, said, “This is a very sad case of an elderly man being brutally murdered in his own home. We are moving forward to prepare the matter for trial.’’

If convicted of the charges, both men face life in prison without possibility of parole.
These charges are accusations. All defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until they plead guilty or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The nine-count indictment, made public today, charges Reginald Anthony, 29, and Shaun Woodson, 25, both of East Orange, with murder, felony murder, burglary, robbery, conspiracy and weapons offenses. Woodson was also charged with resisting arrest.

On April 14, 2010, Anthony was hired as a fill-in chauffeur to drive Janet Nevius, the victim’s wife, to New York City for an overnight trip. Recognizing the husband was home alone, it is alleged Anthony and Woodson decided to burglarize the house. When Nevius put up a fight, it is further alleged the two defendants beat, strangled and stabbed Nevius.

Police discovered Mr. Nevius’s body the next day when he missed an appointment. Local police officers made a welfare check on the house after a friend became concerned.

It was only the second time Anthony had driven for the family. His aunt, the regular chauffeur, had worked for the family for 12 years.

The next scheduled court appearance for Woodson and Anthony is May 3 before the Honorable Peter Vazquez, J.S.C. On that date the two are expected to be arraigned on the charges in the indictment.

If convicted of the charges, both men face life in prison without possibility of parole.
These are accusations. All defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until they plead guilty or found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Judge Vazquez’s courtroom is located on the 6th Floor, Courtroom 604, of the Essex County Veterans Courthouse, located at 50 West Market Street, Newark, NJ.

News media organizations interested in having cameras in the courtroom should contact the Trial County Administrators Office at 973-693-5701.

Woodson is the co-defendant of Reginald Anthony, 28, of East Orange who was arrested on the same charges. Anthony was hired as a chauffeur for the Nevius family. Mr. Nevius was found dead on Thursday morning by the Essex Fells Police. The cause of death is blunt force trauma and strangulation and a stab wound to the neck, according to the autopsy.

Woodson was arrested yesterday. Anthony was arrested Thursday, April 15. Both were arrested at home.

The investigation is continuing.

Bail for Woodson was set at $1.5 million by the Honorable Michael A. Petrolle, JSC. Bail for Anthony is set at $1 million by the same judge. Both Woodson and Anthony are being held in the Essex County Correctional Facility.

If found guilty of these charges, both defendants face a minimum of 30 years to life in New Jersey state prison.

Not withstanding the charges, all defendants are presumed innocent unless they plead guilty or are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.