Honoring Marianne Cramer, 78, of Toms River
January 12, 2024Toms River Township Department of Public Works Will Be Closed on Monday
January 12, 2024
Toms River Man Found Guilty of Gun Threats and Other Charges
According to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, on January 11, 2024, Raphael Powell, 37, of Toms River, was found guilty of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Handgun having previously been convicted of a No Early Release Act (NERA) Offense, Terroristic Threats, Possession of Hollow Nose Bullets, Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, and Possession of Fentanyl, all in connection with an incident that occurred in Toms River Township on July 2, 2022.
After a week-long jury trial before the Honorable Guy P. Ryan, P.J.Cr.P., the jury concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Powell threatened to shoot and kill a male victim with a handgun in Toms River on the date in question. Powell has been lodged in the
Ocean County Jail since the date of his apprehension – July 3, 2022. At the time of his sentencing on March 1, 2024, Powell faces a sentence of 20 years to life in New Jersey State Prison.
Responding Officers contacted with the victim, who advised that he was entering a property on Rory Road when a male approached him and questioned him what he was doing in the area.
Subsequently, the male suspect struck the victim in the face and took a pistol out of his waistband. Threatening to kill the victim, the male suspect aimed the firearm at him. The victim was then allowed to leave the location when a second male arrived on the scene.
Officers from the Toms River Township Police Department were called to help a male victim who had just been beaten on July 2, 2022, at around 11:00 p.m.
Responding Officers contacted with the victim, who advised that he was entering a property on Rory Road when a male approached him and questioned him what he was doing in the area.
Subsequently, the male suspect struck the victim in the face and took a pistol out of his waistband. Threatening to kill the victim, the male suspect aimed the firearm at him. The victim was then allowed to leave the location when a second male arrived on the scene.
An investigation conducted by the Toms River Township Police Department determined that Powell was the individual who struck and threatened the victim with the handgun on July 2, 2022.
Toms River Township Police Officers located Powell outside of his residence in Toms River in the early morning hours of July 3, 2022, and he was taken into custody without incident. Powell was searched incident to his arrest, and found to be in possession of a stolen handgun loaded with 17 rounds of hollow nose bullets.
Powell was also found to be in possession of 30 wax folds of Fentanyl at the time of his arrest. Powell was arrested and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has remained lodged since July 3, 2022.
Prosecutor Billhimer commends the diligence and dedication of Assistant Prosecutor Kimberly Carr who ably and skillfully tried the case on behalf of the State.
The Prosecutor likewise extends his gratitude to the Toms River Township Police Department and Berkeley Township Police Department for their combined and collective efforts in connection with this matter, leading to Powell’s swift apprehension - and ultimately resulting in today’s guilty verdicts.
