WOODBURY, N.J. (Nov. 25, 2003) — A 20-year-old man who pled guilty to murdering a tire shop employee has been sentenced to 35 years in state prison and will not be eligible for parole for 30 years, according to the local prosecutor's office.
Aaron T. Sheppard was sentenced Nov. 21 for the July 9 murder of Joseph J. Green, 52, at Romar Tire Co. in Woodbury. Mr. Green had permission to sleep at the tire shop, and Mr. Sheppard apparently discovered him when he broke into the shop in the early morning hours of July 9. Authorities said Mr. Sheppard bludgeoned Mr. Green repeatedly on the head. He was arrested later that day and pled guilty to the charges in October as part of a plea arrangement.
According to local media reports, Mr. Green's sons, ages 10 and 14, wrote letters describing the loss of their father during the sentencing hearing.
Mr. Sheppard ended up stealing only a camcorder from the tire shop, authorities said, and transferred it to another man who was charged with trafficking and receiving stolen property for selling it.