Pine Brook Man Sentenced to State Prison in Connection to Death of a Child in Montville
Published on November 19, 2018
Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Chief of Investigations Stephen F. Wilson, Jr. announce the sentencing of Maurice Pearson, 31, with a last known address in Pine Brook, on aggravated manslaughter and simple assault charges.
On April 10, 2015, Fairfield Police responded to the Knights Inn, at 55A Route 46 in Pine Brook (Montville Township) on a report of a choking man.
As a result of a joint law enforcement investigation by multiple agencies, Pearson was charged and subsequently indicted for various crimes related to the death of a three-year old boy and an assault on his adult mother.
Pearson pled guilty in April of 2018, to one count of aggravated manslaughter, a crime of the first degree, and one count of simple assault, a disorderly persons offense.
On Friday (Nov. 16), Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Taylor sentenced Pearson to 20 years in state prison. Pearson must serve 85-percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole. He also will be subject to a five-year period of parole supervision upon his release from prison.
The senseless killing of a defenseless child warranted the significant prison sentence of this defendant,'' said Prosecutor Knapp. Nothing can be done or said that will ever restore his mother's loss, however we hope this sentence in some way brings her closure.
Members of the Montville Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit and Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit, the Morris County Sheriff's Office, the Fairfield Police Department, and the Altoona, Pa., Police Department all contributed to this investigation and prosecution.
The State was represented in the court proceedings by Chief Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Troiano and Assistant Prosecutor Melissa Ercolano.
Prosecutor Knapp acknowledged the outstanding work done by both of these attorneys, and would like to thank all members of law enforcement who contributed to this investigation and prosecution.
Inquiries should be directed to Public Information Officer Peter DiGennaro at pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us or 973-829-8159