The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
A 29-year-old New Brunswick man faces up to 21 years in prison after admitting that he caused the death of a Somerset resident in 2013.
Shareef Holder pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated manslaughter and possession with intent to distribute heroin in connection with the death of 22-year-old Luis Rodriguez.
Under the terms of the deal reached with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Holder must serve 85 percent of the term he is given when he is sentenced on Feb. 27.
Holder was allegedly fleeing police in his car on Jersey Avenue when he crashed into a car near Huron Road in North Brunswick driven by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene, police said at the time.
Police said Holder earlier that evening was involved in a crash on Route 27 in New Brunswick. Holder drove away from that scene, police said then, but was later spotted by a New Brunswick officer and stopped on Jersey Avenue.
Police said that while the officer was checking Holder’s credentials, the man sped away.
After hitting Rodriguez’ car, police said, Holder’s car hit a pickup truck and another car. No one in the other autos was injured, police said.
