MAYS LANDING — A Mays Landing woman has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in a 2024 drunken-driving crash that killed a 22-year-old Stockton University student who was just weeks away from graduation.
Alexia M. Glass, 27, pleaded guilty Sept. 3 to six indictable offenses and one disorderly persons offense stemming from three separate criminal cases dating back to 2020, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
Under a global plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend that Glass be sentenced to 15 years in New Jersey State Prison, with 85% of the term to be served before she becomes eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act.
Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 1.
Fatal Crash Killed 22-Year-Old Student
The most serious charges stem from a March 28, 2024, crash in Hamilton Township that killed Yolanda Pacheco, 22, of Mount Holly, and injured Jenalise Sierra-Valentin, then 30, of Egg Harbor City.
Glass admitted she was driving at excessive speed and under the influence when she crashed into Pacheco's vehicle.
Glass pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree joyriding and fourth-degree criminal mischief in connection with the crash.
A second-offense DUI motor vehicle charge will be entered when Glass is sentenced, according to prosecutors.
Contemporary reports provide additional details about the crash. New Jersey State Police responded shortly before 12:30 a.m. to Route 322 in Hamilton Township. Pacheco's vehicle was struck from behind, left the roadway, overturned and struck three parked vehicles.
Pacheco was a senior at Stockton University studying psychology and was about two months from graduation when she was killed.
Her bachelor's degree was presented to her family shortly before Stockton's May 2024 graduation ceremony began, according to a Courier-Post report published after Glass was indicted.
Pacheco's mother, Patricia Helmick, described her daughter in a message thanking people who contributed to funeral expenses.
“She was one of a kind for sure,” Helmick wrote. “Always willing and ready to help others anyway she can.”
She added that her daughter was “small but mighty” and deeply missed.
The fatal crash was investigated by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office Fatal Crash Investigation Unit with assistance from New Jersey State Police.
Drunk Driving With 2-Month-Old Child
Glass also pleaded guilty in a separate case involving an April 22, 2022, incident in Pleasantville.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, Glass operated a vehicle while intoxicated with her 2-month-old child in the back seat.
She pleaded guilty to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and a disorderly persons offense of DUI with a minor.
A first-offense DUI motor vehicle ticket from that case will also be entered at sentencing.
The Pleasantville Police Department investigated the case.
Third Case Dates to 2020
Glass' third case dates to Dec. 2, 2020.
Prosecutors said Glass was operating a vehicle when she failed to stop for law enforcement despite receiving a signal directing her to do so.
Glass pleaded guilty to third-degree eluding.
The Hamilton Township Police Department investigated that case.
Taken together, Glass pleaded guilty to offenses stemming from three separate incidents over a period of more than three years — the 2020 eluding case, the 2022 drunken-driving incident involving her infant child and the 2024 crash that killed Pacheco.
The cases are being prosecuted by Chief Assistant Prosecutor Edmund Mallqui-Burgos of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
Glass is scheduled to return to court Dec. 1 for sentencing.
