Gina LaPlaca

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A mayor in New Jersey has been indicted on child endangerment and abuse charges stemming from a March 2025 incident in which she was accused of driving while intoxicated with her young child in the car, authorities announced this week.

Lumberton Mayor Gina LaPlaca, 46, was charged by a grand jury with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and fourth-degree child abuse,  Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said Thursday, Dec. 4.

The indictment was returned on Nov. 20 and signed by Prosecutor Bradshaw, according to the prosecutor’s office. LaPlaca is scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 8 in Superior Court in Mount Holly, officials said. 

Motorists reported LaPlaca’s BMW swerving and nearly hitting cars and a utility pole, with bodycam video showing her admitting to drinking after picking up her son. Police said she failed sobriety tests, had a damaged mirror and an open container in the car, and later tested at 0.308% BAC before being taken to the hospital and released to her husband.

LaPlaca's husband, Jason Carty, a firefighter of 25 years and Ewing fire captain, released the following statement after his wife's arrest:

"Millions of Americans struggle with addiction and never get help. Gina LaPlaca is someone who has struggled, and is now getting the help she needs. I ask that everyone keep her in their thoughts as she moves forward on her road to recovery. Please ignore the exaggerated political hyperbole and keep in mind her passion for helping others. This should not erase all the things she has accomplished for our community.

"Gina is a loving and caring mother and step mom to our son and her step son. Our oldest is a teenager and can see the unkind things being said online. I ask simply that you respect our privacy, be better humans and please show some compassion, thank you."

After her arrest, LaPlaca entered inpatient alcohol treatment then returned to her mayoral duties despite calls for her resignation, including from Gov. Phil Murphy. 

According to the New Jersey Globe, she's been dubbed the "Queen of Toxicity" and has a history of arrests involving her husband.