Woodbridge Judge's 'Companion' Appears in Court on Robbery Charges

A man described as the "live-in companion" of a Superior Court judge from Woodbridge made his first court appearance Friday for the official readings of his alleged armed robbery offenses in Somerville, according to NJ.com.

Jason Prontnicki, 41, is being held in Somerset County Jail on $100,000 bail on armed robbery and weapons charges stemming from an April incident in which police allege he threatened the owner of an Old Bridge pharmacy with a crowbar and demanded drugs, the article said.  No one was injured and nothing was stolen during the alleged robbery, the article said.

Prontnicki hid at Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Carlia Brady's home for about one hour before he was caught and arrested, and the judge now faces charges related to harboring a fugitive, a second-class offense, according to authorities.

Additionally, Brady, also 41, was suspended without pay from her $165,000-a-year job. Because of her judicial ties, the charges against her and Prontnicki are being heard in Somerset County.

In a June 19 court appearance, Brady, who had been released on her own recognizance, pleaded not guilty to two counts of hindering the apprehension of a fugitive.