Three area people have been charged with attempting to bribe a witness in a pending robbery case, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said on Monday.

James Williams, 32, of Red Bank, Hideia Bouie, 21, and Ameer Washington, 27, both of Neptune Township, have all been charged with second-degree witness tampering. If convicted, each faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in a New Jersey state prison.

James Williams is currently under indictment, charged with first-degree armed robbery in connection with a Feb. 18, 2017 incident in Asbury Park. A subsequent investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Williams arranged to have Bouie and Washington approach the victim in that robbery case and offer him money to recant his story.

If convicted of the original charge of first-degree armed robbery, Williams faces a maximum state prison term of 20 years with mandatory 85 percent parole ineligibility under the No Early Release Act (NERA).

The three accused are currently being held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, Freehold.

The state has filed a motion to detain all defendants pending a trial on these charges. Those hearings are slated for Nov. 29, 2017, before a Superior Court judge. Williams is also currently being detained on his prior robbery charge.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Caitlin Sidley. Williams is represented by John Perrone, Esq., Red Bank. Bouie is represented by Jeffrey Coghlan, Esq., of Freehold. Washington is represented Lisa Maglone, Esq., of Freehold.

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