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Toms River Man's Guilty Plea: Narcotics Distribution, Resisting Arrest, Weapon, and Eluding Charges
According to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, in connection with an investigation that began in the summer of 2023, a Toms River man entered a guilty plea to charges of drug distribution and weapons possession, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said on Monday.
Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said that
Zachary Lockwood, 25, entered a guilty plea on Monday before Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan to charges of possessing a half-ounce or more of heroin with the intent to distribute, being a specific person not to possess a weapon, and resisting arrest.
Lockwood also entered a guilty plea to a separate charge of evading arrest in connection with an incident that occurred in Toms River on September 26, 2023. stated Billhimer.
The sentencing hearing for Lockwood is set for April 5. According to Billhimer, the prosecution is requesting a 10-year jail term for the drug distribution charge, five years for the firearms allegation (with the possibility of five years of parole denial), and five years for the evading charge. For the time he spent serving his sentence for resisting arrest, he will be credited.
According to Billhimer, the sentences would run concurrently.
County during the Special Enforcement Team's investigation conducted in July and August of 2023 by the Toms River Police Department.
Detectives observed Lockwood leaving his house on August 29 and make a stop at a Hooper Avenue CVS. They approached him as he was leaving the business, executed a search warrant on his car, and found 215 wax folds of heroin, according to the authorities.
Authorities added that despite Lockwood's resistance, they were eventually able to take him into custody.
Following the execution of the search warrant at Lockwood's residence, they took possession of a.40 caliber handgun and ammunition along with over 2,000 wax folds of heroin.
Lockwood was sent to the Ocean County Jail, but bail reform laws in New Jersey eventually allowed for his release.
On September 26, after running a red light at Fischer Boulevard and Route 37, Lockwood fled when Toms River police attempted to stop him over. This led to the eluding charge.
Lockwood took off at a high rate of speed, driving recklessly north on Fischer Boulevard and continuing past residential areas on the east side of the street while police attempted to stop him.
His car struck a curb and came to rest in the middle of the road when he attempted to turn back onto Fischer Boulevard.
When the police got close to the car, they discovered Lockwood at the wheel and took him into custody. Since then, he has been detained in Ocean County, according to the prosecutor's office.
