Man caught asleep in snowbank with gun and drugs pleads guilty in Ocean County

Toms River man pleads guilty after cocaine toss and loaded gun found in snowbank incident

Toms River, NJ — A 41-year-old man from Toms River is facing a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to weapon and drug distribution charges connected to two separate incidents in Ocean County, prosecutors said Monday.

Chardel Holman appeared before Judge Guy P. Ryan on Monday and admitted to being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon stemming from a February 12 encounter with Toms River Police. Holman also pled guilty to conspiring to distribute less than a half-ounce of cocaine following a separate incident in Little Egg Harbor on September 13.

Prosecutors say Holman, who has a prior conviction for terroristic threats, was found passed out behind the wheel of a Toyota Sienna on top of a snowbank in Toms River in February. Officers noticed a handgun in the center console and, during his arrest, discovered cocaine on his person. Under New Jersey law, Holman was prohibited from possessing any firearms.

In the September case, detectives from the Little Egg Harbor and Stafford Township drug units spotted Holman in a vehicle near a Walmart parking lot. As they attempted to stop the car, Holman sped away and was seen throwing a bag from the driver’s side window. He eventually parked and fled on foot but was apprehended following a short chase. The discarded bag was recovered and found to contain cocaine.

Holman has remained in custody since the September arrest. When sentenced on January 16, 2026, prosecutors will seek a five-year term in New Jersey State Prison with five years of parole ineligibility on the weapons offense, and a concurrent five-year sentence on the narcotics charge.


Key Points

  • Chardel Holman pled guilty to weapon and cocaine distribution charges from two 2025 incidents
  • Officers found a handgun and cocaine after he crashed into a snowbank in February
  • Holman tossed drugs from a vehicle and fled on foot during a September arrest attempt
Local News Report

Local News Report

Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

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