Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic Police Chief Louis Guzman announce that Passaic County Superior Court Judge Miguel de la Carrera, J.S.C. has sentenced Elijarh Hogges to twenty-three (23) years in New Jersey State Prison for a May 27, 2017 motor vehicle crash.
On October 16, 2019, a jury returned guilty verdicts on one count of Assault by Automobile (Second Degree) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(c)(3), one count of Aggravated Assault (Second Degree) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(1), one count of Knowingly Leaving the Scene of an Accident that Resulted in Serious Bodily Injury to Another (Third Degree) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.1, and one count of Endangering an Injured Victim (Third Degree) in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1.2.
The second degree convictions carry a sentence of up to ten years New Jersey State Prison each, with a mandatory 85% of any sentence having to be served prior to being eligible for parole; the third degree convictions carry a sentence of up to five years New Jersey State Prison.
Judge de la Carrera sentenced the defendant to fifteen (15) years, subject to 85% prior to parole ineligibility on the Second Degree Aggravated Assault. The defendant was sentenced to a concurrent term of seven (7) years flat on the Assault by Automobile, a four (4) year flat sentence concurrent to the Third Degree Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, consecutive to four (4) years flat New Jersey State Prison on the Third Degree Endangering an Injured Victim, for a total of 23 years, with 12 years and 8 months of parole ineligibility.
The evidence presented to the jury during the trial showed that on May 27, 2017, a crash occurred at the intersection of Dayton Avenue and the Route 21 ramp, in the City of Passaic.
The defendant was operating his 2013 Audi Q5, when he disobeyed the red traffic light at that intersection and struck the victim’s 2012 Chevy Malibu, which was exiting the Route 21 ramp at the time. Thereafter, the defendant got out of his vehicle and began to walk home.
Passaic police officers found the defendant prior to him getting to his house in the area of the Walgreens, located at 101 President Street.
The defendant thereafter, refused to provide a chemical breath test to the officers. The case was investigated by the Passaic Police Department, and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Vehicular Homicide Unit.
The State was represented at trial by Senior Assistant Prosecutor Julie Serfess. The defendant was represented by attorney Harley Breite, Esq.