State v. Wade

Defendant pled guilty to second-degree vehicular homicide, N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5, and to operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (DWI), N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(a). The sentencing court held that the No Early Release Act (NERA), N.J.S.A 2C:43-7.2, did not apply to vehicular homicide. The court also declined to merge the vehicular homicide conviction with the DWI conviction, concluding that defendant’s reckless conduct in causing the death of the victim was conduct separate and independent from the DWI offense. In an unreported order, the Appellate Division affirmed the judgment of…