Edward Johnston, 25, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for the deadly crash in Absecon that killed Javier "Javi" Velez in July 2023.
It happened as the boy was on a fishing trip with his father.
Javi was sleeping in his father's car on US 30 and Absecon Boulevard as his brother and dad were fishing in the early morning hours of July 23, 2023.
Fishing was a passion for the entire family.
Johnston, who was impaired and speeding down the highway at 107 miles per hour, veered off the road and slammed into the parked vehicle, killing the boy inside.
Johnston was charged with manslaughter and DUI.
Javier's family brought their late 8-year-old child into the courtroom as best they could as they pursued justice and closure.
Javier's ashes sat on the prosecutor's desk while posters and photos of the boy were displayed in the courtroom.
"My son is gone. You did this to him. You did this to him," his mother, Kaylah Smith, said in court.
She held up a photo of the mangled car Javier was in.
"This is what you did to him," she speaking toward Johnston. "Can you imagine an 8-year-old little boy being in this car?"
Johnston looked on as Javier's family read their impact statements out loud, yearning for him to hear them and understand their pain.
"You killed a child. You killed Javier. You made the choices that led us here," said Javier's aunt, Kaylin Snyder.
"I couldn't get to him bro. I seen his whole last breath," said Javier's father, Orlando Javier Velez.
Before being sentenced to 15 years in prison, in line with the plea agreement, Johnston apologized.
"I think about your son every day and it's destroyed me, so I can't imagine how it has affected you," he said.
Despite the serious charges, Johnston was let out on bail to face trial, which drew public outrage and criticism.
Now, lawmakers are working to close that so-called "loophole" by proposing legislation revoking the license and even impounding the vehicle of a defendant facing such charges.
"I'm going to make sure that no one has to go through that again and I'm not going to stop until the law is changed," Smith said after court.
As that bill is moving through the state legislature, the family is planing to file suit against Boogie Nights and Tropicana for over-serving Johnston.