Two in Streetside Paterson Shooting Death of 14-Year Old Basketball Prodigy Nazerah Bugg to Open Tuesday, May 30
By Mary K. Miraglia
HACKENSACK, N.J. (May 22, 2017) — Trial began today in Bergen County Superior Court for two of eight defendants in the shooting death of a teenage basketball prodigy and serious wounding of another caught between two gangs on a Paterson street.
Nazerah Bugg, 14, was killed and her 15-year old friend wounded when gunfire broke out between rival gangs. Bugg and her friend were with a group congregated near a chicken restaurant at Clinton and North Main streets in September, 2014. Investigators say 15 shots were exchanged between gang members of the 1st and 4th wards in retaliation for an earlier shooting. Bugg was shot in the chest and died shortly thereafter in a hospital.
Ten people were indicted on 25 counts including murder, attempted murder, gun possession, drug possession and distribution, and hindering apprehension in August 2015. Eight of those remain to be tried after plea negotiations fell apart at the eleventh hour.
The case is being tried by Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Paul DeGroot, but in Bergen County, because Bugg’s mother is a Passaic court employee.
Nyje “Mookie†Johnson and Jeavonte Dennis had a final pretrial hearing Monday, and jury selection began Tuesday. As of today, Thursday, the trial is on schedule for opening arguments Tuesday, May 30 in the afternoon.
Assistant Passaic County Prosecutor Paul DeGroot confirmed Monday that plea negotiations were just about complete March 21 when “Mookie†Johnson balked in open court.
“I do not want this plea,†he told Judge James J. Guida. The offer was for 25 years, subject to NERA, and would have required the 22-year old to spend more than 21 years in state prison before parole eligibility. Earlier offers of 15 years weren’t acted upon, prompting the prosecutor to “escalate†the plea, or up the ante.
Since all pleas are contingent, all the other defendants are now on deck for trial, and anyone who wants to mitigate their potential prison time by testifying for the prosecution will have to do so with no guarantee for sentencing in place.
Johnson is represented by lawyer Jose Torres of Passaic while Dennis, 20, is represented by Lawyer Dianne D’Alessandro of West Milford. The remaining defendants are Tyheem Mayfield, Nyjeir Barrett, Quajeir Culbreath, Devonte Lewis, Shakeem Ricks, and Baseem Williams, to be tried in the future two at a time.
Two other defendants who were initially charged, Knolaisha Washington and Jalon Brown, have made plea deals with the prosecution and are waiting to be sentenced. Both were charged with hindering apprehension of other defendants. Brown has negotiated for probation, and Washington will apply for the Pretrial Intervention Program, which will allow her to avoid a criminal record provided she’s admitted and complies with her program.
All Persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
