In the case of the murder of Thomas Renison during the robbery at J&J Jewelers in Glen Head on Dec. 21, 2004, all three parties arrested have entered guilty pleas, thus avoiding trials in the case.

On July 12, Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced that 23-year-old Nicole Pearce of Richmond Hill pled guilty to robbery - 1st degree, a Class B violent felony in front of Nassau County Court Judge Victor Ort. On June 30, Pearce's co-defendant and boyfriend Christopher Dimeo, also 23 and from Richmond Hill, pled guilty to murder - 1st degree, a Class A felony and robbery - 1st degree, a Class B violent felony. On July 6, 41-year-old Maryann Taylor of Hicksville, Pearce's other co-defendant and the mother of Dimeo, pled guilty to robbery - 1st degree, a Class B violent felony.

In April 2005, a grand jury indicted Dimeo, Pearce and Taylor in connection with the December 2004 robbery and murder of Thomas Renison at J&J Jewelers in Glen Head.

"On Dec. 21, 2004 at approximately 4:30 p.m., Dimeo entered J&J Jewelers in Glen Head pretending to be shopping for an engagement ring. A short time later, Dimeo produced a hand gun and demanded money and took a variety of jewelry," said Dillon. "At the time of the robbery, Dimeo shot and killed Thomas Renison, 48, of Glen Cove. Both Taylor and Pearce had visited J&J Jewelers earlier and provided Dimeo a detailed description of the store in order to facilitate the robbery. Taylor also drove the get-away car from the store."

In addition to the December 21st robbery and murder of J&J Jewelers in Glen Head, Dillon stated that Dimeo and Pearce were involved in the Dec. 5, 2004 robbery of Roberts Jewelers in Westbury. "Dimeo while armed with a hand gun, stole approximately $65,261 in assorted engagement rings while pointing the handgun at the salesperson," stated the district attorney. "As it relates to this instance, Pearce also entered the location prior to the robbery to gain information on the layout of the jewelry store and the number of employees that were working in the store and relayed that information to Dimeo."

As of press time, Dimeo, Taylor and Pearce are scheduled to be sentenced by Nassau County Court Judge Victor Ort on Aug. 10. Dimeo faces life in prison without the possibility of parole; Pearce faces a 20-year determinate sentence; and Taylor faces a 15-year determinate sentence.

In addition, Dimeo and Pearce are also subject to robbery charges in Rockland County and murder charges in Connecticut. If found guilty, Dimeo could face the death penalty on charges he killed a married couple during a jewelry store robbery in Fairfield. The state's attorney's office will either bring Dimeo to trial or offer him a plea deal, but has not yet commented on whether it will seek the death penalty in the case. If it doesn't and Dimeo is given a Connecticut prison sentence, he will be returned to New York to serve his time, but if Dimeo is sentenced to death in Connecticut, he will be imprisoned there pending his execution.

The charges in Rockland County and Connecticut are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.