July 14, 2023
MAYS LANDING, NJ – Taquaysha M. Bell, 31, of Trenton, NJ was sentenced yesterday by the Honorable Dorothy Garrabrant, J.S.C. to seven years in New Jersey State Prison for the June 19, 2020 vehicular homicide in which 53-year-old off-duty Human Services Police Officer Michael Luko, Sr. was killed. Bell was also sentenced to five years New Jersey State Prison for an aggravated assault on another victim, Chanelle Morgan, who was a passenger in Bell’s vehicle at the time of the crash.
Luko, Sr. was also a former Egg Harbor City Police Officer.
On May 26, 2023, Defendant pleaded guilty to the following charges:
Count 1 – Vehicular Homicide – 2nd degree
Count 2 – Assault by Auto with Serious Bodily Injury – 3rd degree
Assistant Atlantic County Prosecutor Tiffany deGrandmaison prosecuted the case for the State.
Defendant will be required to serve 85% of the seven-year sentence before she will be eligible for parole. Bell’s driver’s license will also be suspended for five years after her release from prison.
Taquaysha M. Bell
Taquaysha M. Bell
Release Revoked For Trenton Woman Indicted Vehicular Homicide
Taquaysha M. Bell, 31, of Trenton, NJ was sentenced yesterday by the Honorable Dorothy Garrabrant, J.S.C. to seven years in New Jersey State Prison for the June 19, 2020 vehicular homicide in which 53-year-old off-duty Human Services Police Officer Michael Luko, Sr. was killed. Bell was also sentenced to five years New Jersey State Prison for an aggravated assault on another victim, Chanelle Morgan, who was a passenger in Bell’s vehicle at the time of the crash.