News & Information

PRESS RELEASE

July 15, 2022

     Acting Sussex County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart announced the sentencing of Ronnie C. Branch who appeared before the Honorable Michael C. Gaus, J.S.C. at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton on July 15, 2022.

     Branch, age 24, of Woodland Park, was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison with 31 days jail time served and a five year loss of license. He had previously been sentenced on a related DWI charge which will run concurrent to his five year license loss. The DWI charge had a sentence of seven months loss of license, twelve hours of Intoxicated Drive Resource Center, and $689 in fines/fees.

     He pled guilty on April 12, 2022 to Vehicular Homicide and Driving While Intoxicated, a crime of the second degree.

     The defendant had been driving under the influence of controlled dangerous substances which subsequently led to a motor vehicle accident in which another driver on a motorcycle was killed. 

     Branch was represented by Laura Sutnick, Esq. and the State was represented by Special Deputy Attorney General and Acting Assistant Prosecutor Brent M. Rafuse. 

BMR