Andy Soto, 28, of Newark, was driving a vehicle on Jan. 18, 2015 that struck and killed 29-year-old East Orange resident Khendrai Williams
NEWARK — Before he was sentenced on Tuesday to four years in state prison for causing a hit-and-run crash last year that killed a pedestrian, Khendrai Williams, Andy Soto broke down in tears as he expressed his sorrow.
"I want to say I'm sorry for the situation that occurred," Soto said in the Newark courtroom. "It was never in my heart for something like that to happen."
But when Williams's uncle was addressing the court about the impact on his family — saying the incident "ruined the family" — two of Soto's family members began yelling in separate outbursts and had to be escorted out of the courtroom by Essex County sheriff's officers.
During the first outburst, one family member yelled about losing a loved one in an unrelated killing in Newark.
About five minutes later, another family member had an outburst and shouted about how Soto is "spending all those years in jail."
After she had been removed from the courtroom, Williams's uncle, Ray Williams, said the Soto family would still be able to spend time with Soto, whereas the Williams family "lost a brother, a nephew, a child."
"We're never gonna get that back," Ray Williams said before referring to Soto: "This kid took another life and he get an opportunity to still spend time with his family once he do his time."
Williams's mother, Matosha Williams, later added during the hearing: "I am so broken-hearted right now."
Soto, 28, of Newark, pleaded guilty on Dec. 7 to charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and causing a death while violating a public policy in connection with the Jan. 18, 2015 crash in Newark.
Under a plea agreement, prosecutors recommended the four-year prison sentence for Soto.
Authorities have said the crash occurred at about 12:30 a.m. near the intersection of McCarter Highway and Market Street in Newark, where Soto was driving the vehicle that struck Williams, a 29-year-old East Orange resident.
When he pleaded guilty, Soto admitted he was driving a vehicle while his license was suspended when he crashed into Williams and then didn't stop at the scene of the accident. Soto said he continued driving for a couple of blocks before pulling over and walking home.
Soto had been charged with vehicular homicide, but as part of a plea agreement, that charge was downgraded to the charge of causing a death while violating a public policy. With his guilty plea, Soto admitted that by driving a vehicle while his license was suspended, he violated a law that is intended to protect the public health and safety.
In handing down the sentence on Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler said he does not think Soto intended to kill Williams, but that he used "horrific judgment" by driving while his license was suspended and by fleeing the scene of the accident.
"I don't believe that you intentionally tried to hurt anybody, but your conduct, your actions on that day, were ultimately criminal," the judge told Soto.
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.