MAYS LANDING, N.J. — Edward Johnston, 25, will be sentenced Tuesday morning for the aggravated manslaughter of 8-year-old Javier “Javi” Velez, who was killed in a high-speed drunk driving crash in Atlantic County, officials confirmed.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at the Atlantic County Criminal Courthouse in Mays Landing. A press conference led by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office will follow at 11:30 a.m. outside the courthouse, weather permitting.

Johnston pleaded guilty on February 27 to first-degree aggravated manslaughter and driving under the influence. Prosecutors said he had been drinking at several bars in Atlantic City before driving 107 mph on U.S. Route 30 (Absecon Boulevard), where he lost control and slammed into a parked vehicle. Javi Velez was asleep in the backseat of that car at the time of impact.

The child was in town from Philadelphia with his father and younger brother, who were fishing just steps away when the crash occurred. Johnston remained at the scene and admitted to drinking. His blood alcohol content registered at .122 several hours later, and marijuana was also found in his system and vehicle.

Fatal crash sparks legislative response

Despite a detention motion from prosecutors, Johnston was released pretrial by court order, prompting widespread public criticism. The case has since fueled legislative action to tighten pretrial detention rules for impaired drivers accused in fatal crashes.

Senator Vince Polistina (R-2) introduced Bill S-2295, which would create a presumption of pretrial detention in such cases and enforce mandatory driver’s license suspension and potential vehicle forfeiture upon conviction. The bill was unanimously advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“This legislation will protect New Jerseyans by ensuring individuals who commit such reckless and deadly acts are not free to pose further danger while awaiting trial,” Senator Polistina said.

Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds praised the work of his office’s team and highlighted the case as a catalyst for needed change. “This heartbreaking case has exposed a critical blind spot in our justice system,” Reynolds said. “It should never take a tragedy to spark reform.”

The sentencing of Edward Johnston follows his guilty plea in a crash that killed 8-year-old Javi Velez and ignited calls for tougher pretrial detention laws in New Jersey.

Shore News Network Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.