Ex-NJ cop who drove drunk, killed pedestrian gets 1 year in jail

LONG BRANCH, N.J. (AP) - A former New Jersey police officer who was driving drunk when he struck and killed a woman while off-duty last year has received a 364-day jail sentence.

But Jake Pascucci's lawyer says he will appeal the sentence handed down Thursday because he feels his client should have instead received a probation term.

The former Long Branch police detective had pleaded guilty in April to strict liability vehicular homicide.

Pascucci struck and killed 66-year-old Stanhope resident Karen Borkowski on Sept. 22 as she was attempting to cross a street in Long Branch. She was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

Pascucci had told officers at the scene he had a green light and that Borkowski was jaywalking, according to dashboard camera video from police.