Jessica Manno, 29, of Bayonne, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a 2014 crash in Newark that killed Anthony Gant, 28, whom Manno allegedly visited to purchase drugs
NEWARK -- A Hudson County woman admitted on Monday to sideswiping a parked car in Newark with an alleged drug dealer hanging onto her vehicle, knocking him off her vehicle and ultimately causing his death.
Jessica Manno, 29, of Bayonne, made that admission when she pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of the Sept. 17, 2014 crash that killed Anthony Gant, 28, of Newark.
In exchange for her guilty plea to a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, Manno is expected to receive a suspended three-year state prison sentence. Since Manno already served nine months in jail, the prison term will be suspended and she will be placed on probation, authorities said.
Manno also had been charged with vehicular homicide and endangering an injured victim, but those charges will be dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Her sentencing is scheduled for April 25 before Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler.
The incident occurred after Manno allegedly visited Newark to purchase drugs from Gant, according to Katherine Carter, spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. When Manno became involved in an altercation with Gant, he punched her in the face, Carter said.
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During Monday's hearing, Manno said that after Gant approached her Nissan XTerra on Riverview Court and ultimately struck her, she tried to drive away and Gant held onto the vehicle. Gant was standing on a step near the driver's side door and holding onto a railing on the roof of the vehicle, Manno said.
As Gant clung to the vehicle, Manno said she sped off and ultimately turned onto nearby Albert Avenue. Then Manno said she drove alongside a parked car and knocked Gant off her vehicle.
Manno acknowledged that Gant struck a part of the parked car, fell off her vehicle and suffered injuries that ultimately led to his death.
Following the crash, Manno said she left the scene and did not contact the police.
"And you did not at any point in time call the police and let them know what happened, correct?" her attorney, Deirdre McMahon, asked Manno during the hearing.
"No," Manno replied.
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.