A Monmouth County man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of attempted armed robbery and attempted burglary in connection with incidents in two towns, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

On April 18, 2019, Tristan Reyes, 20, of Howell, was sentenced by the Honorable Richard W. English, J.S.C. subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act after pleading guilty in February two first-degree attempted armed robberies and one third-degree attempted burglary in Howell and Jackson.

The charges stem from three separate incidents in February and March of 2018 in the two towns. In each of the incidents, Reyes observed a female victim shopping alone in a local store, followed the woman inside the store on foot, and ultimately drove behind her to her home. The women ranged in age from 18 to 38. 

The case background …

During his plea, Reyes admitted that he followed three women to their homes, none of whom he knew, after observing them shopping in local malls. His plan was to rob the women while armed with a knife, but his efforts were thwarted before he could assault them. 

In one instance, after following a Jackson woman home, Reyes went to her front door and pretended to need to use a phone. He was surprised to find her 20-year-old daughter also home and fled the scene.

On another occasion in Howell, Reyes followed an 18-year-old female around a grocery store and then to her residence. The victim realized she was being followed and called her father for help. After trying numerous maneuvers to lose the van, the victim drove home and her father pulled his car out to block any further pursuit. The van made a U-turn and drove away.

In a third instance, Reyes followed a woman as she shopped at several stores and ultimately to her residence. He was observed on video surveillance peering inside her open garage door until the victim’s dog exited the garage and Reyes retreated to his vehicle and ultimately fled the scene.

Reyes was ultimately arrested by the Howell Township police on March 9, 2018 after he and his vehicle were identified through store surveillance tapes.  

The sentence requires that defendant serve 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for release on parole. Once released, Reyes will be on parole supervision for a period of five years.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Proseutor’s Office