Man sentenced to 5 years in state prison for vehicular homicide in fatal DWI motorcycle crash in Sussex County

NEWTON, NJ (Sussex County) – A Passaic County man sentenced to five years in state prison for vehicular homicide in fatal a DWI motorcycle crash, according to Acting Sussex County Prosecutor Annmarie Taggart.

Ronnie C. Branch, 24, of Woodland Park Borough, previously from Sussex Borough, was sentenced before the Honorable Michael C. Gaus, J.S.C. at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton on July 15, Taggart said.

Branch was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison with 31 days jail time served and a five year loss of license, Taggart said.

Branch had previously been sentenced on a related DWI charge which will run concurrent to his five year license loss. The DWI charge had a sentence of seven months loss of license, twelve hours of Intoxicated Drive Resource Center, and $689 in fines and fees, Taggart said.

Branch pled guilty on April 12 to second-degree vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated, Taggart said.

According to Taggart, Branch had been driving under the influence of controlled dangerous substances which subsequently led to a motor vehicle accident in which another driver on a motorcycle was killed, Taggart siad.

Branch was represented by Laura Sutnick, Esq. and the State was represented by Special Deputy Attorney General and Acting Assistant Prosecutor Brent M. Rafuse.