Ex-Mayor WALKS FREE After DUI Child Abuse

A Democratic former mayor who pleaded guilty to child abuse and driving drunk with a blood alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit walked away with no jail time and remains in her elected position, raising serious questions about accountability for those in power.

Story Highlights

Gina LaPlaca, former Lumberton Township mayor and current committee member, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree child abuse and DUI after driving with a BAC of .30% with her toddler in the car
She received three years of supervision under a pretrial intervention program instead of jail time, despite swerving across traffic lanes and endangering her two-year-old child
LaPlaca remains on the Township Committee with no announced plans to resign, continuing to draw a public salary despite her criminal conviction
The Township Committee refused to remove her from office throughout the legal process, despite public pressure and bodycam footage showing open alcohol bottles in her vehicle

Democratic Official Avoids Consequences Despite Guilty Plea

Gina LaPlaca, a 46-year-old Democratic committeewoman in Lumberton Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on March 3, 2026, to driving under the influence and fourth-degree child abuse. The incident occurred on St. Patrick’s Day 2025 when she drove with a blood alcohol concentration of approximately .30%—nearly four times New Jersey’s legal limit of .08%—while her two-year-old child sat in the vehicle. Despite the severity of the charges, Superior Court Judge Craig A. Ambrose sentenced her to three years of supervision under Burlington County’s Pretrial Intervention program for first-time offenders, allowing her to avoid jail entirely and remain in her elected position.

Dangerous Driving Captured on Video and Bodycam

A concerned motorist reported LaPlaca’s BMW swerving across the centerline and nearly causing head-on collisions, providing video evidence to Lumberton Township Police. Officers responded to her residence where bodycam footage captured field sobriety tests in her driveway. The footage revealed her damaged vehicle, open alcohol bottles inside, and her young child present during the arrest. Police discovered she had picked up her toddler from daycare while heavily intoxicated, putting the child’s life at immediate risk. The witness video and police bodycam recordings documented the dangerous circumstances that led to criminal charges of child endangerment and abuse.

Court Initially Denies Leniency Before Reversing Course

Following her arrest, LaPlaca checked into rehabilitation and continued serving as mayor despite mounting public pressure for her removal. The Superior Court Criminal Case Management Office initially denied her application for the Pretrial Intervention program in 2025, suggesting the case did not qualify for diversion. However, after she voluntarily installed an ignition interlock device in October 2025 and completed intensive alcoholism treatment, prosecutors and the court ultimately approved her entry into the PTI program. This reversal allowed her to plead guilty while avoiding incarceration, a decision that raises concerns about whether political connections influenced prosecutorial discretion in a case involving severe child endangerment.

Township Committee Refuses to Remove Convicted Official

Despite LaPlaca’s guilty plea to child abuse and DUI, the Lumberton Township Committee has taken no action to remove her from office. She stepped down from the mayoral role in early 2026, with Terrance Benson—her former running mate—assuming that position, but she retains her committee seat and continues exercising political power. The committee’s refusal to act prioritizes internal party politics over public accountability, undermining voter trust in local government. LaPlaca has reportedly sought re-election to the committee, meaning taxpayers continue funding the salary of an official who admitted to criminal child endangerment while operating a vehicle at a blood alcohol level that could have caused fatal consequences.

⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ since when in America are current and former officials exempt from the law?
Former NJ Mayor and Current City Committee Member Admits to Child Abuse and Driving Drunk with Toddler in Her Car — Avoids Jail, Will Remain in Office https://t.co/ShRIDeA4GJ

— Paige (@PaigeAndPaiges) March 7, 2026

LaPlaca issued a written statement acknowledging her actions were “wrong,” “dangerous,” and “inexcusable,” describing herself as “humbled” and committed to recovery. Her sentencing conditions include mandatory Alcoholics Anonymous attendance with proof of participation, compliance with the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency, and continued use of an ignition interlock device. While the court framed these requirements as rehabilitative, the lack of jail time for an offense involving a BAC of .30% and a toddler passenger sends a troubling message about consequences for those in positions of authority. Ordinary citizens facing identical charges would likely face far harsher penalties, highlighting a two-tier justice system that protects political elites.