Hempstead Man Gets 25 Years to Life for Murder

Marsden killed Freeport electrician during 2006 robbery attempt

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that Ricardo Marsden, who was convicted of murdering a Freeport electrician in February, was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison by a Nassau County judge.

Marsden, 19, of Hempstead, was convicted by a jury of Murder in the Second Degree, two counts of Burglary in the Second Degree, two counts of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree on Feb. 1. He was sentenced by County Court Judge Meryl Berkowitz.

Rice said that in the early morning of Sept. 3, 2006, Charlene Blackman drove Marsden to the home of 48-year-old Peter Jones, with whom she had been having an affair, so Marsden could rob him. Blackman entered the home and remained there for several hours, before leaving the home with its door unlocked. Marsden then entered the home, shot Jones three times in the back, and ransacked the house.

Evidenced showed that after shooting Jones in the home’s foyer, Marsden stepped over Jones’s body and walked through his blood before ransacking the home.

In June, Blackman was acquitted of Murder in the Second Degree, but convicted of Criminal Facilitation in the Fourth Degree. She is awaiting sentencing.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Holbrook, of the DA’s County Court Trial Bureau, is handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office. Marsden is being represented by Lori Golumbek.