Clarence Williams is serving a 25-year state prison sentence for the 2011 incident in West Orange
Clarence Williams NEWARK -- A state appellate panel on Friday upheld the conviction of a man for carjacking another man in 2011 and dragging him nearly 50 yards into oncoming traffic as the victim clung to the speeding vehicle.
Clarence Williams, 44, formerly of Newark, argued in his appeal that a judge improperly allowed testimony at his 2013 trial from the victim, who identified Williams as the assailant.
But the appeals court rejected that argument, saying the victim's identification was "sufficiently reliable," according to the appellate decision.
"Like the trial judge, we are satisfied after reviewing the totality of the circumstances that defendant failed to demonstrate a 'substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification,'" the decision states.
Following his conviction on a carjacking charge, Williams was sentenced to 25 years in state prison. He will be eligible for parole in January 2033.
The incident occurred on June 24, 2011 at an Exxon gas station in West Orange, authorities said. As the victim was putting air into the rear, driver's side tire of his Infiniti G-35, Williams jumped into the driver's seat and started driving away from the victim, the decision states.
When Williams spun the car around and started driving in the victim's direction, the victim stuck his hand in the driver's side window and held onto the car, the decision states. As Williams increased his speed, the victim grabbed his face in order to take control of the car, the decision states.
The victim estimated the vehicle was traveling at 80 mph while his right leg was in the air and his left leg dragged on the ground, the decision states. In order to avoid being hit by another vehicle, the victim ultimately jumped off the car and roll to the side of the road, authorities said.
The Infiniti was found on June 29, 2011 in Newark, approximately two miles from Williams's home, authorities said. Williams's DNA was ultimately discovered on a cigarette and a soda bottle found in the car, authorities said.
The victim initially identified Williams as the attacker on June 28, 2011 when he saw Williams's photo on a bulletin board at the West Orange police station in connection with another incident, the decision states. In October 2011, the victim selected Williams's picture when detectives presented him with a photo array of potential suspects, the decision states.
In his appeal, Williams argued "the identification procedure the police used was impermissibly suggestive because it involved multiple viewings of defendant's photo, and the Critical Reach bulletin Vasquez saw in the police station contained a description of a crime that was similar to what Vasquez experienced," the decision states.
But the appellate panel agreed with the trial judge's conclusion that the victim's identification was reliable, in part because the victim provided police with an accurate description of Williams before viewing any photos and since detectives at the police station did not ask the victim to view the message on the bulletin board.
"Furthermore, the subsequent photo array was properly conducted," the decision states, adding that a detective told the victim "that the perpetrator's photo may or not be included in the array and did not instruct him which photo to select."
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.