Former Trumbull Town Councilor Offered Plea Deal in Fatal Crash

Recently-elected and now former Trumbull Town Councilor Robert McGowan, 29, has been offered a plea deal for his New Jersey fatal accident case.

McGowan has been offered a five-year prison sentence as part of a deal, according to NJ.com. He would have to serve at least 85 percent of it.

Gowen was involved in a car accident four years ago that killed Peter Tyliczka, 69, and injured others. He was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and two counts of fourth-degree assault by auto.

Second-degree vehicular homicide in New Jersey could carry a five to 10 year prison sentence if someone is convicted, according to Rosenblum Law Firm.

First Selectman Tim Herbst asked for McGowen to resign and within an hour he received his resignation, according to the Connecticut Post.

Herbst said he certainly wouldn’t have allowed McGowen on the Republican ticket if he knew of the pending legal situation.

The indictment charges McGowen with driving recklessly. It is unclear why it took about four years for an indictment in the case, according to NJ.com.

Tyliczka died on Oct. 1, 2011. He was a quality control officer for General Motors for 45 years when he retired, according to his obituary.

Read the full NJ.com story here.

Read the full Post story here.