Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Carlos Green, 44, of Irvington of vehicular homicide for striking and killing Billy Ray Dudley of East Orange following a trial before the Honorable Marysol Rosero, Judge of the Superior Court.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Brian Pollock, who handled the case, on Dec. 27, 2014 Dudley, a pedestrian who was then 54 years old, was struck and killed in Irvington in the area of 19th Avenue and Ellis Street after falling in the middle of the street.
Police say Green, who was driving a 2003 Cadillac Escalade, was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
The Escalade continued approximately one block when several pedestrians told the driver to return to the scene. Green told police he had two or three drinks that night.
Green was transported to Rutgers University Hospital where a blood sample was drawn. Without being placed under arrest, defendant was transported home by Irvington Police.
A search of the car uncovered a partially empty bottle of rum in the trunk of the SUV. On December 30, 2014, toxicology results on defendant's blood showed that Green had a blood alcohol content of .210%.
Authorities say on January 23, 2015, Green was issued summonses for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and driving while intoxicated within 1,000 feet of a school.
On March 30, 2015, arrest warrants for defendant were issued charging him with first-degree vehicular homicide according to authorities.
The case was delayed getting to trial because of appellate issues regarding whether Green’s prior DWI convictions could be admitted at trial.
He was convicted in 1998 and 2009 of DWI. The appeals court refused to let the prior convictions in at trial.
Nonetheless, yesterday Green was convicted of vehicular homicide.
"With two prior DWI convictions, defendant was a ticking time bomb that finally went off, leaving Mr. Dudley's family destroyed in his wake. Although a long time coming, they have finally received justice," said Assistant Prosecutor Pollock.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 2. Green faces 10 to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison. This is his first felony conviction.