An 19-year-old Red Bank man has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide following an automobile crash in Middletown that killed a passenger in his car nearly a year ago.
Adam Sofio, no address given, faces up to 10 years in jail for “recklessly causing the death of one Middletown teen, and severely injuring another, by operating a motor vehicle at a high rate of speed while drunk,” Monnmouth County Prosecutor Peter Warshaw said in an announcement Thursday.
Warhsaw’s office will recommend a six-year term at Sofio’s sentencing, scheduled for May 18, according to the announcement.
Here’s the full text [Editor’s note: the release below, posted at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, replaces one sent earlier in the day by the prosecutor’s office that contained factual errors]:
RED BANK TEEN PLEADS GUILTY TO
VEHICULAR HOMICIDE AND ASSAULT BY AUTO
Adam F. Sofio pleaded guilty today to vehicular homicide and assault by auto for
recklessly causing the death of one Middletown teen, and severely injuring another by
operating a motor vehicle at a high rate of speed while drunk, Prosecutor Peter E.
Warshaw, Jr. announced. Sofio, 19, Red Bank, entered his plea before Monmouth County
Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci. Sentencing was scheduled for May 18, 2012.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On February 27, 2011, at approximately 2:05 a.m., Sofio was driving his 1992
Honda Accord on Cooper Avenue in Middletown when he lost control of his car, skidded
off of the road and struck a tree on a residential property. As a result, Sofios car split into
two pieces and his front seat passenger, Paul Bradley, 18, of Middletown, sustained massive
injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Sofios rear seat passenger, John Vogel,
18, of Middletown, suffered serious injuries and was transported to Jersey Shore
University Medical Center for treatment. He was later released. At the hearing today,
Sofio admitted to consuming a substantial amount of alcohol and operating a vehicle at
more than three times the posted 25 mph speed limit on Cooper Road. As a result of his
reckless actions and behavior, Sofio further admitted to causing the death of Bradley and
serious bodily injuries to Vogel.
The vehicular homicide count is a 2rd degree offense and carries up to 10 years
imprisonment. The assault by auto count is a 3rd degree offense and carries up to 5 years
imprisonment. Pursuant to the terms of Sofios plea agreement, the Monmouth County
Prosecutor’s Office will recommend that Judge Mellaci sentence Sofio to a 6-year term of
imprisonment in State Prison. The vehicular homicide charge is subject to the “No Early
Release Act,” which means that Sofio must serve 85% of any sentence imposed prior to
becoming eligible for parole.
Sofio was arrested on May 9, 2011 and was later released from the Monmouth
County Correctional Institution after posting $200,000 bail, set by Superior Court Judge
Thomas F. Scully.
The case is assigned to First Assistant Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni. Sofio
is represented by Mitchell Ansell, Esq. of Ocean.
Released: February 16, 2012
