A Vineland man was ordered held in jail Monday in a crash that killed a longtime employee of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
Eduardo Ibanez-Sanchez is charged with being unlicensed and driving under the influence when he allegedly rear-ended a car driven by Little Jeffrey Grier on April 21, in Hamilton Township.The crash pushed Grier's vehicle into oncoming traffic, where a truck hit him.
Grier, 56, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Ibanez-Sanchez appeared in court via video from the Atlantic County Justice Facility on Monday, after the state moved to have him detained pending trial. He listened through a Spanish interpreter.
Because Ibanez-Sanchez has no criminal history, the recommendation from his public safety assessment — used to help determine detention under bail reform — recommended he be released.
However, Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury noted it did not take into consideration "the defendant's significant lawlessness and failure to appear for less serious matters.
"Those include two driving under the influence cases, and other driving infractions," DeLury said.
"His scofflaw attitude has now escalated to indictable and criminal conduct, and has resulted in the death of another," the judge said. "(Ibanez-Sanchez's) dangerous lawlessness behind the wheel shows he is a palpable danger to public safety."
Because of the victim's employment with the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office has assisted in the case.
Cape May County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Dara Paley is prosecuting the case.
Ibanez-Sanchez will now remain in jail pending the outcome of the case.
