Crime & Public Safety.
A jury convicted Jennifer Ann Parker of leaving the scene of Feb. 17, 2023, crash that killed pedestrian Anthony Jonello
A woman from Whitemarsh Township has been sentenced to a term of 3½ to 10 years in the state prison for her role in a fatal hit-and-run incident in February 2023.
Jennifer Ann Parker, 45, of the 1700 block of Butler Pike, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court Monday after being found guilty of accidents involving death or personal injury — otherwise known as hit-and-run — and driving under the influence of marijuana, according to The Reporter.
The charges stemmed from an incident on the night of February 17, 2023, where Parker struck and killed a pedestrian, later identified as Anthony Jonello, while driving under the influence of marijuana.
During the sentencing, Judge Risa Vetri Ferman condemned Parker's actions, highlighting her failure to stop and render aid to Jonello or call 911. Ferman emphasized the numerous opportunities Parker had to act responsibly that evening, per the report.
The sentence imposed on Parker exceeded the mandatory three-year term required by state law for a hit-and-run resulting in death, with an additional six months added due to the severity of Parker's deceptive behavior when questioned by police after the incident, according to The Reporter.
Parker had initially claimed that the damage to her vehicle occurred moments earlier while she was behind a junk collection truck on Butler Pike. However, investigators found no evidence to support her claim and concluded that Parker knew she had struck a person, police said.
The victim's family expressed their grief and sorrow in court, painting a picture of Jonello as a beloved individual who enjoyed simple pleasures like gummy candy, grape soda, and deep-sea fishing, according to the article.
WATCH: #MontcoPa sheriff’s deputies escort Jennifer Ann Parker, 45, from #MontcoPa courtroom to begin serving 3½ -10 year prison term for Feb. 17, 2023 hit-and-run crash that killed pedestrian Anthony Jonello in Whitemarsh, Pa. She declined to comment about her sentence. pic.twitter.com/AQLxnEA0h7
— Carl Hessler Jr. (@MontcoCourtNews) April 22, 2024
Assistant District Attorney Gabriella Glenning argued for a sentence that would reflect the severity of Parker's actions and serve as a deterrent to others. Despite Parker's apology in court, Glenning emphasized the need for accountability.
Parker's defense lawyer, Meredith Dominguez, portrayed her as remorseful and argued for a sentence no greater than the mandatory term, per the article. However, the judge denied Parker's request for a delay in reporting to prison, stating that she had been aware of the impending sentence for months, per the report.
The investigation into the incident began when Whitemarsh police responded to a hit-and-run pedestrian crash on Butler Pike. Jonello was found unresponsive at the scene and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
Video surveillance footage obtained during the investigation depicted Parker at the Plymouth Square Shopping Center after the crash, examining the damage to her vehicle. This evidence, along with forensic analysis, contributed to Parker's conviction.
Read more on the conviction here.
