Judge rebuffs motion for mistrial before handing down 35-year sentence
By:Audrey Levine
Robert Carman, 39, of Manville, was sentenced today to 35 years to life in
prison after a jury found him guilty of murder in the first degree in June.
Mr. Carman was found guilty of beating Jacqueline Bodo, 23, of Manville, to
death with a 4-by-4 and dragging her body to the railroad tracks under the North Street Bridge on Oct. 12, 2003, where she was hit by a train.
"It wasn’t a fair fight by any means," said Carol Bodo, Ms. Bodo’s mother,
as she spoke tearfully before Judge Robert Reed sitting in Somerset County Superior Court in Somerville. "He left my daughter there, naked, bleeding and barely alive."
Originally, Mr. Carman was facing a possible 30 years to life in prison, but the state filed for an extended sentence, which Judge Reed granted,
raising the possible sentence from 30 to 35 years.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Van Hise, the extended sentence was requested based on Mr. Carman’s prior criminal history, including past
convictions for burglary, resisting arrest and criminal sexual contact.
"There is a likelihood that you will commit other crimes," Judge Reed said to Mr. Carman, whose face revealed no emotion throughout the hearing.
Mr. Carman will serve 85 percent, or 63.75 years, of his sentence for murder before he will be eligible for parole. The sentence is to be served consecutively with a previous sentence of 10 years for burglary and theft for a 2004 conviction.
The proceedings remained stalled at the beginning of the hearing to address a claim by Mr. Carman that Judge Reed had represented him in a parole trial
in 1999.
According to Judge Reed, after some research, he found that he had been retained to represent Mr. Carman in a pending notice of parole revocation.
Judge Reed maintained throughout the hearing that he had no recollection of the event and, therefore, it did not bias his work during the actual trial.
He said he questioned why, if Mr. Carman recognized his name, this issue was not addressed prior to the sentencing hearing.
James Wronko, Mr. Carman’s attorney, requested a mistrial and to have Judge Reed removed from the sentencing, but the motion was denied.
"My recollection did not include having represented Mr. Carman," Judge Reed said. "For me to recuse myself after having presided over the trial does not
and will not interfere with my resolve to give a fair hearing."
As Judge Reed announced the sentence, a sigh of relief sounded from the many friends and relatives who had come out to find justice for Jacqueline
Bodo.
"She wanted a future and she was two days away from making a change for herself," Carol Bodo said. "I am Jackie’s voice and I hope that it has been heard."
For more on the sentencing, see Thursday’s Manville News.

