BREAKING: Newark, New Jersey Man Sentenced To 70 Years In Prison

NEWARK MAN SENTENCED TO 70-YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR THE 2019 EXECUTION-STYLE MURDER

     " Darryl Watson Will Spend The Rest Of His Life In Prison For The Shooting Death Of  Fred Sims."

Thursday, June 29, 2023, 7:15 A.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News, 

NEWARK, NJ.- Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II reported that a 28-Year-Old Newark, New Jersey man to New Jersey State Prison for the 2019 Execution-Style Murder of Fred Sims, 29, of Newark, New Jersey.

     The Honorable Ronald Wigler, J.S.C, Sentenced Darryl Watson, 28, of Newark, to 60 Years for The Murder Conviction, Subject to The No Early Release Act. Watson will be required to Serve 85 Percent of the Sixty Years before becoming Eligible for Parole. Judge Wigler also Sentenced Watson to an additional Consecutive Term of 10 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm by a Person previously Convicted of a Felony.

     On December 9, 2022, Following a Six-Day Trial, an Essex County Jury returned Guilty Verdicts against Mr.Watson on One Count of First Degree Murder; Two Counts of Second Degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; One Count of Second Degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; and Six Counts of Narcotics Offenses. 

     In a separate Trial following The Murder Conviction, The Jury found Mr. Watson Guilty of Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon. In relation to a 2016 Conviction for The Distribution of Narcotics and Unlawful Gun Possession.

     The Sentence stems from when on February 7, 2019, Mr. Watson was Selling Heroin and Cocaine near The Kretchmer Elderly Housing Project in Newark, New Jersey. Video-Surveillance captured Watson Stashing Drugs and a Firearm in the rear wheel well of a Minivan. A short time later, Mr. Watson went back a retrieved the Gun from the van. Watson then approached Mr. Sims, Firing One Shot into his Head. As Mr. Sims lay on the ground, Watson then Stood over him and Fired an Additional 10 more Shots into Mr. Sims. Mr. Watson then Fled the Scene.

     Then on September 23, 2021, while awaiting Trial for the Sims' Murder, Mr. Watson was Charged with Attempted Murder for Beating a Fellow Inmate with a Microwave Oven at The Essex County Correctional Facility. On June 14, 2023, an Essex County Jury Convicted Watson of The Attempted Murder of a Fellow Inmate. Sentencing that Matter has been Scheduled for September 2023. At which time Watson will potentially face an Additional Consecutive State Prison Sentence of 20 Years.

FILED UNDER JUNE 29, 2023: LAW, ESSEX: