FREEHOLD, N.J. — A Long Branch man has been sentenced to an extended term of 10 years in state prison for assaulting and harassing a female victim despite a restraining order, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.
Brett Roach, Sr., 50, was convicted of multiple charges, including disorderly persons Simple Assault, third-degree Witness Tampering, third-degree Stalking, and fourth-degree Contempt. The sentence, handed down by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Henry P. Butehorn, came after Roach was found guilty following a jury trial on August 9, 2024.
The case stems from an incident on January 27, 2023, when Eatontown police responded to a domestic dispute on Stony Hill Road. Officers determined that a verbal altercation between Roach and the victim had turned physical. When police were called, Roach fled the scene, but he was arrested the following day after returning to the residence. The victim obtained a temporary restraining order against Roach at that time.
Despite the restraining order, Roach allegedly contacted the victim over a hundred times during his detention at the Monmouth County Correctional Institute. Prosecutors said he used phone calls, third parties, and mail to repeatedly urge the victim to drop the restraining order and charges, constituting witness tampering.
Judge Butehorn granted the State’s motion for an extended term, sentencing Roach to 10 years in prison with a two-year period of parole ineligibility. The Stalking charge was upgraded to a third-degree offense due to Roach’s repeated violations of the restraining order.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Santiago emphasized the serious nature of witness tampering and harassment in cases of domestic violence, calling the sentence a necessary step in protecting victims and upholding justice.