Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced that the Honorable Joseph A. Portelli, J.S.C., today sentenced James Perry, 24, of East Orange to 40 years in New Jersey State Prison for killing a mother and her son while speeding in a stolen car. Perry must serve 30 years before he will be eligible for parole.
After an 18-day trial an Essex County jury convicted Perry of two counts of aggravated manslaughter for killing Joselin Lizardo, 38, and her 10-year-old son, Aneudy Breton. The young mother was traveling in a Toyota Corolla, heading to the store to buy milk, when her vehicle was struck by Perry, who was fleeing police in a stolen Acura. The deadly collision occurred on Nov. 25, 2008 in Newark on the corner of Myrtle Avenue.
At sentencing today, Judge Portelli, who presided over the trial, said the impact of the collision was so great that the 10-year-old’s body was thrown a block from the crash site.
At the time of the crash, Perry, was traveling with Eugene Reaves, 27, and Chad Pamplin, 22, both of East Orange, who plead guilty to lesser charges.
Assistant Prosecutor Ralph Amirata, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Erica Liu, asked for a 70-year sentence, the maximum, noting two innocent people had died because of Perry’s reckless behavior. Amirata also argued that Perry, who was 21 years old at the time, had seven prior arrests that resulted in three prior felony convictions for drug offenses and theft.
The judge sentenced Perry to 16 years for each aggravated manslaughter conviction and eight years for failure to render aid to an injured victim.
“This is such a heartbreaking case because a vibrant young woman and her son were killed because of the senseless and reckless acts of Perry. Hopefully, this case will send a clear message to anyone who would consider getting behind the wheel of a stolen car,’’ said Amirata. “This was not an accident. It was a reckless act by this defendant who was traveling at a crazy speed trying to escape the police.’’
