An Absecon man who never showed up to his sentencing in a gun and drugs case is now accused of murder.
Jerome Holley, 41, was released from jail almost a year ago, after pleading guilty to running a drug-manufacturing facility out of Pleasantville with weapons.
He was supposed to be sentenced Oct. 17 before Judge William Miller, but never showed up.
Holley was before Miller again last week, after he was arrested in an aggravated assault on his stepfather from Sept. 28.
At the hearing, Holley's public defender successfully argued for three weapons charges to be dropped, after the judge found there was no grounds for probable cause to indicate the defendant was armed.
But new charges alleged Holley not only had a gun, but used it on Mamadou Toure, killing the Pleasantville man.
Police were called to the first block of West Pleasant Avenue at about 8:40 a.m., after someone call 911 to report a shooting.
Toure, 45, was found in a driveway unresponsive, and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
Holley was charged Friday with murder and weapons offenses, including certain persons not to possess firearms due to his criminal history.
"He’s been a problem most of his life," the judge said during last week's detention hearing in the aggravated assault. "He’s been engaged in criminal activity most of his life."
When Holley first appeared via video from the jail, the judge noted that the meeting was overdue.
"He was released pending sentencing before me and never showed up," Miller said.
Defense attorney Christina Naughton said Holley told her the notice went to the wrong address.
The charges filed Friday indicate there may have been another reason Holley did not show up on Oct. 17, eight days after Toure was fatally shot.
Holley already was in the Atlantic County Justice Facility when he was charged with the murder, after Miller ordered him held at last week's hearing.
At that time, Miller pointed to Holley's record, which includes "a history of weapons, escape and not following court orders."
Holley will likely have another detention hearing on the newest charges.
The investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit and the Pleasantville Police Department is ongoing.
