Statements Made at Pretrial Hearing for Dover NJ Nightclub Murder Case

In Morris County Superior Court in Morristown NJ, a pretrial hearing began in the case of a Dover NJ man accused of beating to death a 26-year-old Los Angeles man outside a Dover nightclub.

According to prosecutors, 29-year-old Roman Pacheco used a metal pole to kill Edwin Alexander Chavez after Mr. Chavez allegedly touched his wife inappropriately.

At the pretrial hearing, a Dover NJ police detective testified that before the killing, Mr. Pacheco admitted that he had been involved in an altercation with Mr. Chavez. According to the detective, Mr. Pacheco said that the fight began when Mr. Chavez “grabbed” the rear end of Mr. Pacheco’s wife.

Because the judge issued a continuance for the hearing, Mr. Pacheco will have to return to Morris County Superior Court on December 10. At that time, prosecutors expect to play a video-recorded statement that detectives took from Mr. Pacheco.

As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, homicide is a first degree criminal offense. If Mr. Pacheco is convicted of first degree felony murder, he could be sentenced to a term of life in state prison.