A man who robbed a pharmacy with a lug wrench was convicted on Thursday.
Jason Prontnicki, pictured in this July 19 file photo, after he pleaded guilty in November 2012 to receiving stolen prescription drug forms and then allegedly committed an armed robbery at a pharmacy in late April. NEW BRUNSWICK -- The man who had been in a relationship with a judge while on trial for robbing a pharmacy with a lug wrench three years ago was convicted on Thursday and now faces up to 20 years in prison.
Jason Prontnicki, 45, of Bayonne, was convicted by a jury of armed robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon in connection to robbing a pharmacy on April 29, 2013, according to a statement from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
The case had initially been transferred from Middlesex County to Somerset County because Prontnicki had been in a relationship with Middlesex County Judge Carlia M. Brady at the time he was arrested.
Brady had faced a charge of second-degree official misconduct after she was accused of allegedly harboring Prontnicki, however, the charge was ultimately dismissed.
After learning of an outstanding arrest warrant for Prontnicki, who she had been dating at the time, Brady allegedly hid him in her home, prosecutor's had said in a previous report.
During the trial, testimony revealed that Prontnicki entered the pharmacy and "threatened a store employee with a lug wrench," the statement said.
Prontnicki had reportedly used a crowbar to rob the owner of Woods Pharmacy on Texas Road in Old Bridge. But having been a customer of the pharmacy, he was recognized by the owner, according to officials in a previous report earlier this year.
When an employee warned Prontnicki that authorities had been notified, and would be arriving soon, he fled without taking any property. He was later arrested in Woodbridge, according to the statement.
He is facing 10 to 20 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled to take place on Nov. 18.
In November 2012, Prontnicki had pleaded guilty to charges related to receiving stolen property from two doctors as well to using forged prescriptions from one of the doctors to obtain prescription opioids and xanax, according to a previous report, citing court documents.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.