Two indicted on robbery, attempted murder charges Men allegedly stabbed Middletown bike shop owner on Christmas Eve BY JOHN SUTTON Correspondent FREEHOLD - A Monmouth County grand jury returned an indictment charging two men with the first-degree crimes of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, and attempted murder, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. Keith D. Simmonds, 19, of Middletown, and Jeffrey Trent McCray, 20, of Atlantic Highlands, were also indicted on charges of third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon, a fourth-degree charge, according to the Prosecutor's Office. The indictment stems from an investigation by Middletown police that concluded that on Christmas Eve, Simmonds and McCray entered Mike's Bikes, Avenue D in Middletown, just prior to closing time, and showed the store owner an interest in purchasing a bike. After the store owner showed them several bikes, Simmonds allegedly grabbed him by the collar and twisted his shirt to maintain a choke hold on him, authorities said. Simmonds allegedly then took out a knife, but told the store owner that he would not be hurt. Meanwhile, police said, McCray removed money from the store cash register. They then took the store owner to the garage, where they believed they would find more money, according to investigators. On the way to the garage, the store owner tried to escape, but was stabbed three times in the back by Simmonds, according to investigators. Both suspects fled the scene, but McCray was apprehended within a few minutes of the incident, and Simmonds was arrested the next day. Reached by phone on Thursday, the store owner declined to comment on the indictment. Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin released a statement through a press release. "This Christmas Eve armed robbery was a carefully premeditated criminal act which involved the use of a deadly weapon against a hardworking merchant," Valentin said. "The Middletown Police Department is commended for the investigation which resulted in the arrests of Simmonds and McCray." The potential sentence for each of the first-degree crimes includes a possible custodial term of 20 years, all of which are subject to the No Early Release Act that requires a person to serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for release on parole. The Prosecutor's Office said the men's next court appearance will be an arraignment within the next few weeks before Superior Court Judge Francis P. DeStefano, in Freehold. Both Simmonds and McCray have been held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in lieu of $400,000 and $500,000 bail, respectively, since they were arrested.