Watchung Robbery Was an Inside Job, Prosecutor Says

Shortly after taking cash and items from the Watchung Game Stop store Thursday night, two men involved in the robbery went to the house of a store employee to divvy up the ill-gotten gains, Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano says.

And Monday, the three—William Curry, 20, of Plainfield, a 17-year-old Plainfield juvenile with the initials "D.O." and Game Stop store manager Ethan Hendrix, 22, also of Plainfield, were taken into custody, facing multiple charges stemming from their actions to set up the false robbery.

According to a statement from the prosecutor, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Stuart Buckman and Watchung Borough Acting Chief of Police Joseph Cina, investigators determined the three were working together after reviewing surveillance footage from the store Friday, which they said showed "D.O." and Curry entered the store at about 8:05 p.m. 

The video showed them talking with Hendrix "in an apparently familiar manner inside the store." Investigators said Curry was seen wearing the same clothing and carrying the same black backpack Hendrix later reported the alleged gunman was wearing.

Also, Watchung Detective Sgt. Scott Anderle reported inconsistencies between the statement provided by Hendrix and the surveillance footage.

Investigators were able to determine that the three met at Hendrix's residence in Plainfield after the incident, where each defendant received proceeds from the robbery. Police searched Hendrix’s West Fourth Street residence and seized evidence pertaining to the “robbery,” Soriano said.

Soriano said all three were arrested and charged with Theft by Deception, third degree, Conspiracy To Commit Theft, third degree and Possession of an Imitation Firearm, fourth degree. 

Also, Hendrix and Curry are facing the added charge of using a minor to commit a criminal offense, a second-degree charge.

Hendrix and Curry were turned over to the Somerset County Jail, with bail set by Judge Anthony F. Pichea, J.S.C., at $15,000 cash or bond. "D.O." was turned over to the custody of his mother.

Prosecutor Soriano, Chief Buckman and Acting Chief Cina request that anyone with information pertaining to this “robbery” to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100, the Watchung Borough Police Department at (908) 756-3663, or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”.  All calls will be kept confidential.