From Daily Mail: The ex-New Jersey Democrat mayor who admitted to drinking vodka before driving her toddler home from daycare avoided jail time after being found guilty on several charges.
Former Lumberton Township Mayor Gina LaPlaca, 46, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree child abuse and driving under the influence just under a year after the shocking bodycam video emerged, prosecutors said.
Judge Craig A Ambrose sentenced LaPlaca to three years of supervision via Pretrial Intervention, a diversionary program for first-time offenders resulting from her March 17, 2025 arrest.
As part of the program, she must show regular proof of attending Alcoholics Anonymous and has to use a special device to turn the ignition in her vehicle, NBC Philadelphia reported.
LaPlaca posted a long explanation to her Facebook page, saying she “struggled privately with alcoholism” for “many years.”
“I have never felt more humbled than I do standing before my community today,” she said. “The weight of my actions is something I carry deeply. What I did was wrong,’
“Addiction does not excuse my behavior, but it does explain the work I must continue to do. I am fully committed to my recovery. That commitment begins with my family – especially my children – and extends to every part of my life. Recovery is not a statement; it is daily, intentional work.”
Read more at Daily Mail
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