COURT HOUSE – The defendant in a fatal hit-and-run accident, which killed an 80-year-old pedestrian, entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment April 19; however, his attorney indicated a plea agreement has been reached with prosecutors and would soon be entered.
Hugo Michael Maucher was indicted by a Cape May County grand jury March 28 on a second-degree count of leaving the scene of an accident involving death and a second-degree count for violating a public health and safety law for failing to render aid.
Maucher turned himself in to police days after the accident Dec. 29, 2022, on Stagecoach Road, near Williams Way, in Upper Township. The victim, Marjorie Straubmuller, was airlifted to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries less than two hours later.
First responders found her lying in the road and witnesses said they saw a man get out of his car, look at the victim, then get back into his car and drive off, according to prosecutors.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, a preliminary investigation revealed Straubmuller was in the northbound lane of traffic when she was struck.
After being arraigned by Judge J. Christopher Gibson in Cape May County Superior Court April 19, Maucher’s defense lawyer indicated an agreement had been reached following negotiations with prosecutors.
“We were going to put a plea through today, so we do have the case resolved,” John Tumelty, Maucher’s defense lawyer, said. The terms of the plea were not discussed.
The prosecutor assigned to the case was not in court for the arraignment and had a colleague standing in, so the case was given a new listing of May 17.
Maucher has been held in jail without bail since his arrest Jan. 3. He would get credit for time served toward any custodial sentence imposed as part of the plea agreement.
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