The 23-year-old rejected an offer of 36 years in state prison, with no early release possibility until at least 85 percent of it is served, authorities said.
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A Jan. 19 photo of Andrew Torres, of Allentown, who allegedly shot a Phillipsburg gas attendant to death during a botched robbery.
The Allentown man accused of shooting a Phillipsburg gas station attendant to death during a botched robbery rejected a plea offer today.
Andrew R. Torres, 23, rejected an offer of 36 years in New Jersey state prison, without the possibility of release until at least 85 percent of the sentence is served, authorities said.
Torres, who appeared for an arraignment before Warren County Judge Ann Bartlett in Belvidere today, rejected the offer and instead entered a plea of not guilty.
Torres is accused of shooting 47-year-old Kismathdas Kasam to death in January 2012 during a robbery at the BP gas station at 742 Main St.
Torres and Zachary Flowers, 19, demanded at gunpoint money and the ring off Kasam's finger, and Torres fired a shotgun blast into his right leg after Kasam turned over $500, police said.
Torres faces first-degree murder and other charges. He is scheduled to appear in court next for a status conference on July 2.
Flowers previously pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy charges. Two other co-defendants have also pleaded guilty to charges for helping plan the robbery: David Beagell, 22, of Blakeslee, Pa., and Alexis Flowers, 22, of Allentown.
Zachary Flowers previously told authorities that Torres tried to convince him to lie in court about who fired the fatal shot.
Torres' attorney intends to later introduce paperwork to have evidence against Torres suppressed, and to have statements Torres allegedly made to police tossed.
Contact reporter Colin McEvoy at 610-258-7171 ex. 3631 or cmcevoy@express-times.com.
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