New Jersey Man Gets Prison for DUI Assault

🔴   Jackson man gets long prison term for DUI and firearms charges

🔴   DUI accident resulted in 4 injuries

🔴   Convicted man must serve at least 85 percent of sentence

A Jackson man learned his fate today when the Honorable Dina M. Vicari sentenced him to ten years in New Jersey State prison in connection with Aggravated Assault in connection with a motor vehicle crash that occurred last March in Toms River.

The man, 35-year-old Charles Sharkey, Jr. of Jackson Township had previously pled guilty to the charges.

And because his sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act, Sharkey will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before being considered for parole.

In addition to the prison sentence, Sharkey was fined and had his driving privileges suspended because of another guilty plea involving driving while intoxicated.

Sharkey was also sentenced to ten years with a five-year period of parole ineligibility as a result of his pleading guilty to a firearms charge in a separate, non-connected incident.

Sharkey's sentences will run consecutively.

Sharkey had pled guilty to the charges in a trial back in October of this year.

According to a release from the Ocean County Prosecutor's office,

On Thursday, March 23, 2023, at approximately 4:00 p.m., Officers from the Toms River Police Department responded to the area of Route 70 and Massachusetts Avenue for a report of a serious motor vehicle crash. Initial investigation by responding officers revealed that a 2022 Dodge Ram 1500, operated by Sharkey, was traveling eastbound on Route 70 approaching the cross street of Massachusetts Avenue. Sharkey failed to stop at the red light at the intersection, and grazed the rear of a 2016 Honda CRV which had been travelling westbound on Route 70 and turning left onto Massachusetts Avenue. Sharkey then struck a 2017 Subaru Impreza – also attempting to make a left-hand turn onto Massachusetts Avenue from Route 70 westbound – which contained a male adult driver and three juvenile passengers. As a result, the Impreza was pushed backward and rotated in a clockwise manner. The Dodge Ram operated by Sharkey overturned and came to final rest on the driver-side; the vehicle caught fire and sustained heavy fire damage. In the process of the vehicle overturning, a 2021 Lexus RX 350 was grazed and sustained minor damage.

At the time of the crash, an adult and two juveniles were treated for minor injuries and released while a third juvenile sustained more serious injuries and is now recovering at home.

According to police, Sharkey had been arrested less than two weeks before the accident for suspected DUI and a firearms charge.

Authorities say he was released a short time later due to NJ Bail reform.

Source:  Ocean County NJ Prosecutor's Office