Gina LaPlaca Enters Diversionary PTI Program After DUI Incident Involving Her Young Child

Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 7:00 A.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

LUMBERTON, NJ.- Lumberton Township Mayor Gina LaPlaca has admitted guilt to a criminal child abuse charge connected to a drunk-driving incident in which her young child was present in the vehicle, according to an announcement from the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.

     LaPlaca, 46, a member of the Lumberton Township Committee who currently serves as the township’s mayor, entered guilty pleas Tuesday in Superior Court in Mount Holly and was admitted into New Jersey’s Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program, a diversionary program designed for certain first-time offenders.

     Under terms imposed by Superior Court Judge Craig A. Ambrose, LaPlaca will be placed on supervised probation for three years through PTI. If she successfully completes the program and complies with all court-mandated conditions, the criminal charges may ultimately be dismissed.

     However, prosecutors emphasized that failure to comply with the program’s requirements could result in her removal from PTI and prosecution on the underlying criminal charges.

Guilty Pleas Entered In Court;

     According to Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw, LaPlaca pleaded guilty to fourth-degree child abuse stemming from the incident.

     She also entered a guilty plea to Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in connection with the same event.

     Judge Ambrose ordered LaPlaca to comply with multiple conditions as part of the PTI program, including:

     • Continued participation in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings

     • Compliance with any directives issued by the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP)
     • Adherence to all supervision requirements under the diversionary program

     Additionally, LaPlaca must maintain an ignition interlock device on her vehicle, a mechanism that prevents a car from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath.

     During court proceedings, LaPlaca informed the judge that she voluntarily installed an ignition interlock device on her vehicle in October 2025, months before entering her plea.

Alcohol Treatment Programs Completed;

     Court records and documentation presented during the hearing indicated LaPlaca has already completed multiple treatment programs addressing alcohol dependency.

     She provided proof showing she successfully completed:

     • An outpatient alcoholism recovery program at a treatment center
     • An intensive treatment program, from which she was formally discharged in May 2025

     The court acknowledged those efforts during the hearing.

Investigation Began After Motorist Report;

     The criminal investigation began in March 2025, after another motorist contacted police to report a dangerously erratic driver traveling through Lumberton Township.

     According to investigators, the caller reported that the vehicle:

     • Swerved across the centerline repeatedly
     • Nearly struck several oncoming vehicles

     The motorist also recorded video footage of the incident and provided it to law enforcement.

     After reviewing the video evidence, Lumberton Township police officers responded to LaPlaca’s residence, where she was subsequently taken into custody.

Extremely High Blood Alcohol Level;

     The investigation conducted by the Lumberton Township Police Department determined that LaPlaca had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.30% at the time of the incident.

     Under New Jersey law, drivers are considered legally intoxicated at 0.08% BAC, meaning LaPlaca’s level was nearly four times the legal limit.

     Authorities also determined that her young child was present inside the vehicle during the incident, which resulted in the criminal child abuse charge.

Conditions Of The PTI Program;

     New Jersey’s Pretrial Intervention program allows certain first-time offenders to avoid a permanent criminal conviction if they successfully complete a period of court-ordered supervision and comply with all imposed conditions.

     Participants are typically required to meet obligations such as:

     • Substance-abuse treatment or counseling
     • Community supervision
     • Compliance with social service agencies
     • Avoidance of any additional criminal offenses

     Failure to meet those obligations can result in termination from the program and reinstatement of criminal prosecution.

Public Office Context;

      LaPlaca currently serves as a member of the Lumberton Township Committee, the governing body responsible for municipal operations in the Burlington County community.

     The township committee traditionally selects one of its members each year to serve as mayor, a role that generally presides over meetings and represents the municipality at official functions.

     As of the court proceeding, no immediate legal action regarding her elected position had been announced in connection with the case.

     The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the case was investigated by the Lumberton Township Police Department. 

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Art Fletcher, Executive Editor, and is based on official statements released by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and information presented during Superior Court proceedings in Mount Holly. Under New Jersey’s Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program, defendants who complete all required conditions may have their charges dismissed. Failure to comply with PTI conditions may result in reinstatement of criminal prosecution. Englebrook Independent News will continue to monitor the case and report any additional legal or governmental developments involving the Lumberton Township mayor.