By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Atlantic County announced that on Thursday, February 29, Tina C. Lewis, 35, of Mount Holly, was sentenced to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison, subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA) after previously pleading guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter.
According to officials, on September 14, 2023, Lewis pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter.
The plea was an open plea, meaning that at the time of sentencing, the court had the discretion to sentence the defendant within a range of five years to 30 years in State Prison subject to NERA, officials said.
At the time of sentencing, the State argued for 15 years in State Prison subject to NERA, and the defense argued for a downward departure into the second-degree range for a sentence of five years in State Prison subject to NERA.
Authorities say the defendant had no prior criminal history.
Officials say the investigation began on September 24, 2021, when Lewis and her boyfriend, Craig Everett, arrived at Recovery Centers for America (RCA) in Mays Landing, and Lewis refused to enter RCA.
As Craig Everett attempted to get her into the rehabilitation center, Lewis reentered her vehicle from the passenger side and climbed over the center console into the driver seat, officials stated.
Everett attempted to get Lewis out of the vehicle, and he entered the passenger seat.
Once Everett was in the passenger seat, officials said, Lewis drove away from RCA and made a right turn onto Atlantic Avenue, where Everett got out of the vehicle and began walking in the grass area on the shoulder.
Lewis’ vehicle drove off the paved roadway into the grass area, ultimately hitting and running over Everett, accoridng to officials.
Authorities say Lewis briefly stopped and then ultimately fled the scene and eventually returned to RCA, where she denied knowing what happened to Everett.
Lewis had a blood alcohol concentration of .22%.
Officials said the investigation revealed Everett suffered numerous skull fractures, a brain bleed, rib fractures, a femoral fracture, and a pelvic fracture.
He was later pronounced deceased on September 25, 2021, officials say.