Law enforcement officials in Somerset County announced the sentencing of Bryant D. Eggleston, 51, of Plainfield.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on July 8, 2021 defendant Bryant D. Eggleston was sentenced by the Honorable Anthony F. Picheca, Jr., J.S.C., to a term of five (5) years in State prison with eighteen (18) months of parole ineligibility on charges of third degree Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury; third degree Endangering an Injured Victim; fourth degree Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution; and fourth degree Tampering with Physical Evidence.
Defendant Eggleston was also sentenced on motor vehicle summonses for Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident and Failure to Report an Accident. Defendant entered a guilty plea to these crimes on May 10, 2021.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on October 8th, 2019 at approximately 6:50 p.m. Watchung Police received a 9-1-1 call reporting a pedestrian struck on Valley Road by a motor vehicle which fled from the scene.
Responding Watchung Police Officers located a 12-year-old male juvenile victim with serious bodily injuries resulting from being struck by a motor vehicle. Responding Watchung Officers along with medical personnel provided emergency aid to the victim who was transported to a trauma center for emergency treatment.
The juvenile victim survived the event. Investigators from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis reconstruction Team (CART) along with Watchung Police Detectives responded to conduct the investigation.
Prosecutor Robertson said that as a result of a fifteen month investigation into the hit and run the investigation revealed that a white 2013 Hyundai Sonata, was the vehicle involved which struck the 12-year-old pedestrian male juvenile victim.
Subsequent follow up investigation resulted in the identification of the vehicle’s owner and operator at the time of the event as Bryant D. Eggleston, who fled the motor vehicle accident scene immediately after the collision with the pedestrian.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 Watchung Police detectives assigned to the investigation located and arrested defendant Eggleston without incident at his residence in Plainfield,