Verona Fatal Hit-and-Run: Alleged Undocumented Immigrant Gets 3 Years In Jail

VERONA, NJ — An Essex County man will serve three years in prison after leaving the scene of a fatal hit-and-run that killed a Verona businessman in June of 2016, a report says.

During a Friday sentencing, Jose Asencio, 44, a Newark man who is allegedly an undocumented immigrant, received a three-year sentence that will likely result in his deportation, according to his attorney.

Asencio pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a fatal accident in January, NorthJersey.com reported.

The defense had painted the picture of Asencio as a man of faith who was remorseful for his actions, while prosecutors said it would be a "serious injustice" if Asencio didn’t serve the prison sentence that the victim’s family expected, NorthJersey.com stated.

Read the full article here.

Prosecutors previously said that a Ford van driven by Ascencio struck and killed Verona resident Matthew BeneduceMcGrath as he was crossing the street at Bloomfield Avenue and Hillcrest Terrace around 9:30 p.m. on June 24.

Emergency responders transported BeneduceMcGrath to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:58 p.m., authorities said.

• See related article: Verona Man Was Victim In One Of 2 Fatal Hit-And-Run Accidents In New Jersey
• See related article: 5 Reasons Why Immigrants Make New Jersey Better

According to his obituary, BeneduceMcGrath was born in Logansport, Indiana, and was a resident of Verona for 29 years, as well as the owner of Benegrathic Sign Design in Verona. He was an active member of the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a dedicated supporter and guest speaker of the VFW Post 2342 in Fort Lee.

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