Trenton man charged in 2014 murder has a month to accept plea deal

Joeryan Foreman

Joeryan Foreman

One of two men charged in connection with the shooting death of Chevin Burgess has until next month to decide whether he will accept prosecutors’ plea offer or head to trial.

Joeryan Foreman, 23, is accused of helped alleged triggerman Calier Samad, 28, dispose of Burgess’ badly burned body which was found January 4, 2014, inside an abandoned vehicle engulfed in flames.

Foreman, charged with counts of murder, arson, robbery and weapons offenses, has been offered a plea deal that would require him to spend 25 years in state prison for aggravated manslaughter. He would also receive nine years for aggravated arson, which would run concurrently to the manslaughter charge.

Samad has been offered a 30-year prison term for murder for allegedly shooting Burgess once in the head during a botched robbery, authorities said, before he and Foreman drove to the 100 block of Hart Avenue and torched the car.

Authorities used a phone number Foreman provided to staff during a hospital visit to connect him to the crime after the same number appeared in Burgess’ call logs some time before the murder, prosecutors have said.

Foreman checked into a local hospital on the night of the murder after he sustained burns on his hands and face, which authorities believe happened when he tossed a lighted matchbook into the car.

Burgess, 22, was discovered after firefighters extinguished the flames inside the car. He was burned beyond recognition and had to be identified by dental records, authorities have said.

Foreman is being held in jail in lieu of $600,000 bail and is expected back in court April 25. Samad remains jailed on $1 million bail. His next court appearance is in May.

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