Sheriff’s sharpshooters guarded the perimeter of the Ocean County Justice Complex Monday as a jury found three men guilty in the brazen, gang-related murder of a Lakewood man in a crowded barbershop – a case that gripped the courthouse community with fear of intimidation and retaliation for more than a month.

After a trial that began before Superior Court Judge Wendel E. Daniels on Oct. 14, a jury of seven women and five men announced about 3:30 p.m. – near the end of its second day of deliberations – that it had found Tyleek Baker, James Russell and Jamal Scott guilty of all charges related to the shooting death of Jose Francisco Olivares.

Olivares, 21, was shot five times inside the Man, Woman and Child barbershop on First Street in Lakewood about 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2006.

The three defendants each were charged with Olivares’ murder and with conspiring to murder him. Baker, the gunman, also was charged with possessing a handgun for an unlawful purpose and unlawfully possessing the weapon.

Following the jury verdict, Baker pleaded guilty to another charge of possession of a handgun by a convicted person – he has a 2001 conviction for possessing narcotics with the intent to distribute them.

Each of the defendants face 30 years to life in prison for the murder when they are sentenced by Daniels on Jan. 30.

(Asbury Park Press)