Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel
A Superior Court Judge sentenced a 61-year-old Somers Point woman whose original 2007 vehicular homicide conviction was reversed on appeal in connection with the 2004 death of a Somers Point teenager to 10 years in prison. Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel announced.
In accordance with a March 1, 2011 plea agreement, Paula Cicchinelli must serve five years, one month and six days or 85-percent of the six-year prison term for vehicular homicide before parole eligibility, for the Nov. 16, 2004, hit and run death of 18-year-old Nickolas Marvel. In addition, Cicchinelli must serve four years in prison to run consecutive to the six-year prison term for leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Upon release from prison, the defendant will be subject to three years of parole supervision and a five-year license suspension. She also must serve 30 days to run concurrent for Driving While Under the Influence. Cicchinelli has already served two years, eight months and three weeks in prison, according to Assistant Prosecutor Diane Ruberton, who represented the state.
Cicchinelli admitted during her plea hearing that she drove recklessly and caused the death of Nickolas Marvel. She also admitted drinking wine on that evening and that the drinking impaired her ability to drive and contributed to the crash.
