A Linden man who was intoxicated when he struck and killed a Cumberland County Sheriff's deputy in 2022 will was sentenced to up to eight years in prison last week after pleading guilty in the case.
Nicholas Terlizzi, 25, of Linden, pleaded guilty to felony death by a vehicle and felony hit-and-run for the Dec. 16, 2022, death of Deputy Oscar Yovani Bolanos-Anavisca Jr. , 23.
In exchange for the plea on July 17, charges of second-degree murder, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, driving with a revoked license, no liability insurance and expired registration were dismissed, according to the record.
He was sentenced to between five years, 10 months, and eight years in prison, according to court records. Terlizzi was given credit for 18 months spent in jail awaiting trial, the record states.
According to the arrest warrant, Bolanos-Anavisca was fatally struck at 2:46 a.m. near Dedication Drive as he and his law enforcement K-9 walked back to the deputy's patrol car after participating in a search for a robbery suspect. Bolanos-Anavisca was pronounced dead at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
Related: 'Oscar paid the price': Man to face murder charge in Cumberland County deputy's death
Terlizzi was stopped about 5 a.m. on U.S. 301 and State Highway Patrol troopers noted damage to the BMW SUV he was driving was consistent with the impact, the warrant states.
Court records state that Terlizzi had red glassy eyes, slurred speech and he smelled of alcohol.
Assistant District Attorney Rob Thompson said Terlizzi's blood alcohol level of 19 was more than double the legal limit for driving.
On Dec. 23, 2022, friends, family and law enforcement officers grieved the loss of the deputy.
The deputy's fiance, Elena Schmidt, spoke about the man she was ready to marry and whom she began dating when the two were just 15.
“You were more than a deputy to me,” Schmidt said. “You were my person, my best friend, the love of my life and my soulmate. My heart is broken knowing that our time together has been cut so short.”
Bolanos-Anavisca's death marked the first time in 18 years that a Cumberland County deputy died in the line of duty.
Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Man pleads guilty to hit-and-run death of Cumberland County deputy
Most Popular
Comments / 0