Joseph Marsh, the Toms River 28-year-old who Monday admitted running down an 84-year-old man with his car in South Toms River in December 2013 might face significant time behind bars, under the plea deal he struck with prosecutors.

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Marsh pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in the death of William Gaughan of South Toms River, according to information from the office of Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato.

He also pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of heroin and possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute.

The vehicular homicide count could place him in prison for as long as 10 years, with a requirement to serve 85 percent of the term, or eight-and-a-half years. The drug charges carry a possible sentence of up to 10 years, with five years of parole ineligibility.

Whether the sentences are served concurrently, or consecutively, will be a decision issued by the judge at sentencing, scheduled for September 11, 2015.

Marsh also forfeited $24,820 seized by investigators, in accord with terms of the Anti-Drug Profiteering Penalty, authorities said.

Marsh was arrested at the Jersey City office of attorney James Lisa on January 17, 2014, one month and one day after the hit-and-run near a 7-11 convenience store.

Investigators said that Marsh, using a cell phone while behind the wheel of his 2012 Kia Optima, ran over Gaughan, who was crossing Dover Road at the time, and kept on driving, at about 5:54 PM. Bystanders called 911, authorities said.

Gaughan was airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, and clung to life until 7:30 PM.

Officers also charged that Marsh replaced the damaged windshield, removed debris with a vacuum cleaner, and extricated his license plates, registration and insurance papers from the vehicle to eliminate any connection to it.

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