N.J. man sentenced to state prison for armed robbery at N.J. soccer complex, assault at basketball court

A 23-year-old man was sentenced to more than 10 years in state prison in connection with two separate crimes that took place in Ocean County, including an armed robbery at a soccer complex. Shakim Varick, of Berkeley Township was sentenced on April 17 after he pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbery and aggravated assault, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. The robbery occurred on Jan. 13, 2025 in Berkeley Township when officers responded to the area of the Eastern Soccer Complex for a report of an armed robbery, officials said. Responding officers learned that Varick arranged to meet a person at the soccer complex to complete a business transaction. When the person arrived, Varick pulled a gun, demanded additional money and threatened the victim with serious bodily harm if he failed to comply, police said. The victim fled the scene and contacted the police, officials said. On Jan. 13, 2025, Varick was arrested at his home and taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been held since that time, according to officials. Varick will also serve prison time for an incident that happened on May 30, 2024 in Berkeley Township, police said. During that incident, officers responded to the basketball courts on Third Avenue in the Manitou Park section of Berkeley Township at around 10 p.m. for a report of an aggravated assault with a handgun, officials said. Police discovered that Varick approached an individual at the courts while pointing a firearm. Varick was arrested on June 17, 2024 at his home in South Toms River by officers from the Berkeley Township Police Department, officials said. He was sentenced to 18 months for that crime, but it will run concurrently with the 10-year term.