Tampering charges

Officer suspended but lawyer maintain's client's innocence

Jayson Williams leaves court with his wife after pleading innocent last Friday to first-degree manslaughter and other charges. AP

FLEMINGTON, N.J. (AP) -- A police officer has been indicted on charges he interfered with the investigation into the fatal shooting at the home of former NBA star Jayson Williams.

Eric Allena, a Bridgewater Township police officer, was charged Wednesday with second-degree official misconduct and third-degree tampering with witnesses.

His lawyer, Steven Lieberman, said Allena was innocent and "looks forward to proving it."

The 27-year-old Allena, who joined the Bridgewater force in 1998, was suspended without pay after he turned himself in and surrendered his weapon. He was freed after posting $10,000 bail.

The case involves the fatal shooting of limousine driver Costas "Gus" Christofi. Williams, a former star for the New Jersey Nets, faces aggravated manslaughter and other charges and is free on bail.

Authorities say Allena, a friend of Williams, was off duty when he went to the Alexandria Township mansion on Feb. 14, just hours after Christofi was killed. Christofi had been invited inside the home after he picked up some of Williams' friends at a Harlem Globetrotters game in Bethlehem, Pa.

Prosecutor Steven Lember said Allena got access to the crime scene and told witnesses not to give information to investigators.

"He had an opportunity that morning and that afternoon to talk to the witnesses," Lember said. "He told them to withhold information or to not give truthful statements."

Lember said Allena was charged with official misconduct because he knew the witnesses were giving false statements and he failed to report it or make an arrest himself.

Prosecutors say Williams recklessly handled the 12-gauge shotgun that killed Christofi, then tried to make it look like the victim fired the gun. They also accuse Williams, Gordnick and a third man, Kent Culuko, of trying to destroy or conceal evidence implicating Williams and asking witnesses to lie about what happened.

Culuko, 29, of Mahwah, has pleaded guilty to witness and evidence tampering and agreed to testify against Williams and Gordnick.

Williams remains free on $270,000 bail. He could face nearly 45 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

 

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