PRESS RELEASE-FREEHOLD MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR WEAPONS OFFENSES

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Hector Calderon, 53, of Freehold, was sentenced on July 27, 2020, to ten years New Jersey State Prison (“NJSP”) with a five year period of parole ineligibility as a result of a previously entered guilty plea to Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b, by the Honorable James M. Blaney, J.S.C. Additionally, Judge Blaney sentenced Calderon to nine years NJSP with a four-and-one- half year period of parole ineligibility in connection with a second guilty plea to Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, also in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b. The sentences will run consecutively. Calderon pled guilty to both charges before Judge Blaney on February 7, 2020.

Calderon was arrested on April 10, 2015 – along with co-defendant Daniel Romeodisantillo – in connection with the murder of Peyman Sanandaji, which occurred at a restaurant in Jackson on April 9, 2015. Romeodisantillo was convicted of murder and is currently serving a thirty year prison sentence in NJSP. Calderon was tried twice for murder and related weapons offenses; mistrials were declared in both trials, however, after the respective juries could not reach a unanimous verdict. As a result, an agreement was reached between the State and defense whereby Calderon pled guilty to the weapons offenses, for which he has been sentenced to a total of nineteen years NJSP with a nine-and-one-half year period of parole ineligibility.

Prosecutor Billhimer would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of Chief Trial Attorney Michael Weatherstone and Senior Assistant Prosecutor Kristin Pressman who handled the case on behalf of the State. Prosecutor Billhimer likewise extends his gratitude to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their hard work and combined assistance in this investigation which ultimately resulted in Calderon’s conviction and lengthy state prison sentence.