Howell Man, 21, Pleads Guilty in Fatal 2013 Crash on Fort Plains Road

A Howell man pleaded guilty Friday afternoon to charges related to the fatal motor vehicle collision in June 2013 that took the life of his passenger and injured a second passenger, according to Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Jacob Cannizzaro, 21, of Howell, pleaded guilty to second degree Vehicular Homicide, fourth degree Assault by Auto, and a motor vehicle summons for Reckless Driving admitting his guilt before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia.

The fatal motor vehicle collision occurred on Fort Plains Road in Howell Township at about 11:30 p.m. on June 14, 2013, when Cannizzaro was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt and lost control of the vehicle. His rear passenger, Mark Chilton, 22, of Freehold, was killed as a result of the collision, and Cannizzaro’s front passenger, Angelo Capasso, 21, of Howell, was injured but survived.

A joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and Howell Township Police Department revealed Cannizzaro was speeding, passed another car in a no passing zone, and was found to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fatal collision.

Cannizzaro is scheduled for sentencing on January 9, 2015, before Judge Vernoia. As part of his plea agreement, Cannizzaro faces a sentence of five years in a New Jersey state prison, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring him to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. He would also be under parole supervision for three years following his release from state prison. The plea agreement was made in consultation with and the agreement of the victims’ families.

Cannizzaro is currently free on $100,000 bail, as set by Judge Vernoia.