SENTENCING IN VEHICULAR HOMICIDE TRIAL

Toms River, NJ – Erick Uzcategui, 34, of Manchester, NJ has been sentenced to eight (8) years in New Jersey State Prison, of which by law he must serve 85% of the term before becoming eligible for parole. The sentencing is the result of the vehicular homicide jury trial before Judge James M. Blaney, JSC. Uzcategui was charged in the death of Ocean Gate Police Officer Jason Marles, whom he struck on the Garden State Parkway in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day 2010, just after Officer Marles got off duty and was returning home.

The trial was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Prosecutors Pat Sheehan and Michael Weatherstone, with assistance from the Ocean County Major Crimes Unit. Det. David Margentino from the Ocean County Fatal Accident Unit investigated the case. Sgt. Matt Rezukas of the New Jersey State Police provided additional critical evidence regarding the crash.

Uzcategui had been out on $250,000 bail since December 2010. He will be remanded to New Jersey State Prison to serve his sentence.

Erick Uzcategui

Photo courtesy Ocean County Jail