Pardon Issued to Convicted Hit-and-Run Driver
Former New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy granted a pardon to a convicted individual on the same day that the person was found guilty of a hit-and-run incident.
Harris Jacobs, 28, was accused of fatally striking 76-year-old Orlando Fraga in Atlantic City in September 2022, according to reports. Jacobs allegedly left the scene without notifying the authorities. His defense attorney, Lou Barbone, noted that the pardon was issued before sentencing.
“My client received a call from the governor’s attorney at 7:30 a.m.,” Barbone stated. “A pardon was issued, but we didn’t have it in our hands. We know it was issued before sentencing.”
If found guilty, Jacobs could face between five to ten years in prison.
Harris Jacobs is linked to Joe Jacobs, a notable figure in Atlantic City and a long-time supporter of Murphy. The elder Jacobs reportedly raised substantial funds for the 2024 Senate campaign of Tammy Murphy, the governor’s wife. Post-incident, Harris contacted his father multiple times but chose not to alert emergency services.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office expressed disapproval of the pardon in an official statement. They emphasized that when politics interfere with justice, it undermines public trust in the legal system. “Justice must remain blind to influence and power,” the statement read, highlighting the danger of relationships affecting legal outcomes.
Additionally, Murphy commuted the sentence of Mordechai Berkowitz, 24, who had been sentenced for vehicular homicide. Berkowitz was convicted for killing a woman while driving recklessly, under the influence, and exceeding the speed limit.
In a previous trial, a judge had sentenced him to six years in prison. With the commuted sentence, he’ll be eligible for parole in early 2028. Berkowitz’s attorney has connections to Murphy’s candidacy, having previously been considered for the role of attorney general.
Interestingly, Murphy did not grant any pardons during his first term but issued a notable number—455—in his final year.
