Joseph Meyer Sentenced to Probation Against Jail in Auto Death of Stephen Lenge
By Mary K. Miraglia
HACKENSACK, N.J. (Feb. 24, 2017) — A Florida man who was one of two drivers racing Ferraris that crashed and caused the death of Stephen Lenge, 56, of Kinnelon walked out of court Friday, Feb. 24 essentially a free man, as a result of pleading guilty and agreeing to cooperate with the prosecution of his co-defendant.
Joseph Meyer of Orlando, Florida was sentenced by Presiding Judge Susan J. Steele, on recommendation of Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Martin Delaney, to a “reverse split” of 364 days in the Bergen County Jail against five years’ probation. A “reverse split” means Meyer is serving probation first, and as long as he abides by its terms he won’t have to do the jail time.
The sentencing hearing was very emotional. Meyer himself testified that he was “never a driver.” He came to New Jersey from Florida for IT work while taking a break from college to work for funds.
He told the judge he could never have imagined that a thoughtless act he committed would result in harm to another person. A visibly distraught Meyer described seeing Lenge lying lifeless on the ground following the crash of the two Ferraris, which he had been racing at the behest of his boss and co-defendant, Joseph Ferretti, 32, of Dumont.
Meyer is 24 and took a job with Gotham Dream Cars of Englewood as an IT professional. Gotham Dream Cars gives thrill-seeking drivers the opportunity to drive racing vehicles, like the two Ferraris, under supervision of a professional driver for a fee.
Meyer said he was unfamiliar with the car, and unfamiliar with New Jersey But because his boss said it was alright he drove, and he drove fast, he said.
Lenge, a popular and well-known owner of Things from England in Cliffside Park, was riding his motorcycle to work at a music festival at about 8 a.m. May 13, 2012 on Berry Creek Road in East Rutherford, which has a 25 mph speed limit. It was Mother’s Day. Meyer and Ferretti were driving two Ferraris and “I accelerated,” Meyer said. He lost control of the Ferrari, a car he had never driven before, on a curve. Ferretti, driving behind him, then also lost control and crossed into the oncoming lane, striking Lenge head on. Police investigating at the time said both men were driving at a high rate of speed.
Lenge, a married father of two daughters, was killed instantly.
Delaney, in recommending the plea agreement, said “This is what happens when two worlds collide.”
“I can see and accept that Mr. Meyer is remorseful, that he didn’t intend to hurt anyone that day,” the prosecutor said. “Of that I’m certain. And yet, he did.
“It doesn’t change their suffering in the least.” Quoting Lenge’s wife, Angie, and oddly echoing Meyer’s tearful admission of guilt, Delaney said “This was not an accident. It was an unintended consequence of an intentional act — that cost a man his life.”
Lenge’s two daughters, Stephanie and Christina, also testified to the impact of losing their father.
Meyer’s mother told the Lenge family her heart went out to them, and “I have wanted to tell you every day how sorry I was.” She said her son “perseveres every day to make something of himself.”
In addition to 5 years probation and the 364-day suspended sentence, Meyer must perform 50 hours of community service and will lose his driver’s license for a year. His attorney, Ellen Torregrossa-O’Connor of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer in Woodbridge, told the judge loss of license would make it difficult for Meyer to travel to college, but Steele, who said she was impressed with Meyer’s educational goals, urged him to “figure it out.”
Ferretti has not made a plea agreement and is headed to trial later this year.
