Orange County News
For Immediate Release                                                                        Contact: Christopher Borek
February 6, 2019                                                                              845.291.3276, 845.238.4245c

District Attorney Hoovler Announce State Prison in Automobile Fatality Case

Speeding Driver Impaired by Marijuana Sentenced to 5 to 15 Years in Prison

 for Killing Other Motorist in Cross-Over Collision

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Wednesday, February 6, 2019, Robinson Perez, 31, of Manhattan, was sentenced by Orange County Court Judge William DeProspo to five to fifteen years in state prison in connection with a fatal automobile collision which occurred on July 16, 2017.  The victim was killed when the car that he had been driving on State Route 17M, in the Town of Wallkill, was struck at high speed by a car driven by Perez.

On December 18, 2018, Perez pleaded guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Drugs (as a felony). Perez was sentenced to concurrent sentences of five to fifteen years in state prison, on the charge of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, and one year in jail on the charge of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Drugs.

Prosecutors had argued that New York State Troopers had unsuccessfully attempted to pull Perez over when they noticed Perez driving a BMW automobile in excess of 100 miles per hour just prior to the fatal collision.  At the time he pleaded guilty, Perez admitted that he was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the collision and that the car he had been driving crossed over the double yellow line into the opposing lane of travel before colliding head-on with the oncoming car.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation and the arrest of Perez.

            “While no state prison sentence can ever compensate for the pain experienced by a grieving family, I hope that this sentence brings some measure of closure to the victim’s family and his loved ones,” said District Attorney David Hoovler.  “Fatalities caused by those who drive while under the influence of any substance are as preventable as they are tragic.  This victim was lawfully using the roadway and had every right to expect that he would be able to safely get to his destination without a speeding driver, impaired by marijuana, inexplicably crossing over a double yellow line into his lane and killing him. My office will continue to work with the New York State Police, and all of law enforcement partners, to prosecute those who selfishly place the lives of others in jeopardy by driving while under the influence. My deepest condolences go out to the family of the victim this case.”

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Leah Canton.