June 7, 2024
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on June 7, 2024, the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., sentenced Christopher Hurley, 27, of Little Egg Harbor, to twelve years New Jersey State Prison as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Robbery in connection with an incident that occurred in Berkeley Township on February 5, 2022. This sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, meaning that Hurley will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility. Hurley pled guilty to the charge before Judge Rahill on March 18, 2024.
On February 5, 2022, Officers from the Berkeley Township Police Department responded to the Rite Aid Pharmacy on Route 9 for a report of an armed robbery. Responding Officers determined that a male suspect entered the store, brandished a knife at the cashier, and demanded money. The store staff surrendered the cash drawer to the suspect, who then fled the scene. A subsequent investigation into the matter transpired over approximately the next two weeks; as a result, Berkeley Township Detectives were able to identify Hurley as the individual responsible for robbing the Rite Aid on February 5th. In furtherance of the investigation, Detectives determined that Hurley had been arrested by Officers from Toms River Township Police Department on an unrelated charge on February 22, 2022, and was lodged in the Ocean County Jail at that time. Hurley was thereafter served with the Berkeley Township robbery charge at the Ocean County Jail on February 25, 2022. Hurley presently remains lodged in the Ocean County Jail awaiting sentence.
Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the diligent efforts of Assistant Prosecutor Julie Peterson who handled the case on behalf of the State, and commends the Berkeley Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Berkeley Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and Toms River Township Police Department, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this matter leading to Hurley’s apprehension, guilty plea, and now his state prison sentence.
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