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Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 21 that George Trimigliozzi, 56, of Islip, was indicted for Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and related charges, for allegedly sexually assaulting two women following dates arranged through on-line dating applications.

“Police officers swear an oath to protect us,” said District Attorney Tierney. “These allegations are truly disturbing. I will use my office to protect everyone equally, without fear or favor.”

According to the investigation, in May 2021, Trimigliozzi met Jane Doe #1 on a dating website. On May 14, 2021, they went on a date in the Patchogue area. Following the date, Trimigliozzi asked Jane Doe #1 to sit in his car to talk. Knowing he was a police officer and thus believing herself safe, Jane Doe #1 agreed. Once inside his car, Trimigliozzi moved into the passenger seat of the vehicle, where Jane Doe #1 was seated, and allegedly forcibly subjected her to sexual contact to which she did not consent. At one point during the sexual assault, Jane Doe #1 opened the passenger side car door. Trimigliozzi allegedly leaned over, grabbed the door, and closed it, placing himself in between Jane Doe #1 and the door, preventing her escape.

In June 2022, Trimigliozzi met Jane Doe #2 on a dating website. On June 10, 2022, they went on a date in the Hampton Bays area. Trimigliozzi rode his motorcycle to pick up Jane Doe #2 at her home. Jane Doe #2, knowing Trimigliozzi was a police officer, felt he could be trusted with her address and to pick her up at home. Following the date, Jane Doe #2, worried Trimigliozzi had consumed too much alcohol, invited him into her home to “sober up” by having some water and using the restroom before he headed home. Trimigliozzi allegedly agreed and asked Jane Doe #2 for a tour of her apartment. Once the two arrived at Jane Doe #2’s bedroom, Trimigliozzi allegedly pushed her onto the bed and had non-consensual intercourse with her.

On May 21, 2025, Trimigliozzi was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei on the charges of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class D felony, Rape in the Third Degree, a Class E felony, and Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

Justice Mazzei ordered Trimigliozzi held on $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond, or $1 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Trimigliozzi is due back in court on May 22, 2025, and faces seven years in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by William Keahon, Esq.

Trimigliozzi was previously indicted in October 2024 on several charges including enterprise corruption, promoting prostitution, falsifying business records, filing a false instrument, and official misconduct for his alleged involvement in running brothels and managing sex workers. He is currently suspended without pay. That case is currently pending.

If you believe you have been victimized by George Trimigliozzi, please call the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at (631) 853-4626.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Laura de Oliveira and Bureau Chief Kevin Ward, of the Public Corruption Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by investigators assigned to the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Squad.

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James Brown

Previously Convicted Felon James Brown Faces Up to 40 Years to Life in Prison at Sentencing

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that James Brown, 45, of Mastic, was found guilty after a jury trial of Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges, for fatally shooting his longtime friend, Umar Elquhir, 45, of Mastic, in November 2023.

“This previously convicted felon killed his longtime friend by shooting him multiple times,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I thank the jury for the attention they paid to this case. We will seek a sentence that ensures defendant Brown can no longer hurt other Suffolk County residents.”

The evidence at trial established that on November 7, 2023, at approximately 9:27 p.m., Suffolk County Police received multiple 911 calls reporting that a male was on the ground and possibly shot in the Poospatuck Reservation in Mastic. Once police arrived at the scene, they saw the victim unresponsive and with multiple gunshot wounds lying on the ground next to a home where Brown resided. The victim was transported to Long Island Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

During their investigation, law enforcement obtained video surveillance from a smoke shop across the street from Brown’s home which revealed that Brown and the victim had a physical altercation earlier in the evening.

The victim left but returned approximately two hours later and parked outside of Brown’s home. When Brown came out of the home, he walked toward the victim’s car while repeatedly yelling, “You wanna die?” before firing approximately nine shots into the vehicle. Multiple bullets hit the victim, who was seated in the driver’s seat. Brown then walked away and went inside his home, and the victim got out of his vehicle and collapsed onto the ground. Brown testified at the trial that he was acting in self-defense and scared for his life.

Police lifted a palm print from an area where Brown was seen to be touching when he was firing the shots in the video surveillance. The palm print was compared to Brown’s palms, and it was determined to be a match.

On May 9, 2025, Brown was convicted of one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C felonies, after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins.

Brown was previously convicted in February 2012 of Assault in the First Degree (Loaded Weapon) for which he was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

Brown is due back in court for sentencing on June 16, 2025, and potentially faces up to 40 years to life in prison. He is being represented by Jason Russo, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eric S. Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective T. Michael Palumbo and retired Detective Brendan O’Hara of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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Jonathan Redar

Jonathan Redar Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison at Sentencing

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 8 that Jonathan Redar, 33, of Miller Place, was found guilty after a jury trial of Assault in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, for shooting a relative during an argument outside of a billiards bar.

“This defendant, a previously convicted felon, and who was prohibited from possessing a firearm, shot a member of his family outside a crowded establishment,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Despite the challenges posed in this case, the phenomenal work of SCPD detectives allowed my prosecutors to present a compelling case. I thank the jury for their work.”

The evidence at the trial established that on May 7, 2024, at approximately 2:03 a.m., Redar and the victim began to argue in the parking lot of a billiards bar in Mount Sinai. Redar then pulled out a firearm and fired a single shot at the victim while unsuspecting bystanders were nearby. The bullet penetrated the victim’s left forearm and abdominal area. Redar then fled the scene. The victim was transported to Mather Hospital and later transported to Stony Brook Hospital for emergency surgery in their trauma unit, where he was treated for numerous injuries including shattered bones and damage to his organs. A bullet fragment was also removed from the victim.

On May 15, 2024, while conducting surveillance, Suffolk County detectives located Redar and subsequently placed him under arrest at a Walmart in Yaphank.

Prior to this case, Redar had been convicted of multiple felonies including but not limited to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony, in 2016, Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, a Class E felony, in 2012.

On May 7, 2025, Redar was convicted of Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, after a jury trial heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz.

Redar is due back in court for sentencing on June 10, 2025, and faces up to 25 years in prison. He is being represented by David Besso, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Sean E. Buckley and Jeremy Waite of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Gregory Marino of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Sixth Squad, and District Attorney Investigator Daniel Gallagher of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office as well as research analyst, Brooke Baade of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Stacey Hirsch Allegedly Stole Approximately $80,000 from Selden Church to Use for Personal Expenses

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 2 that Stacey Hirsch, 48, of Saint Lucie, Florida, was indicted for Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, for allegedly embezzling funds from a Selden church.

“Financial crimes against community institutions not only damage their operations but undermine the trust that binds our community together,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We intend to pursue this case vigorously to send a clear message that those who exploit positions of trust for personal gain will face the appropriate consequences under the law.”

According to the investigation, between June 2022 to May 2023, Hirsch, formerly of Centereach and a former bookkeeper at the Selden church, allegedly stole about $80,000 from the church’s bank account. Hirsch allegedly did this by writing checks to herself and her husband without authority or for any legitimate church related reason or expense. She allegedly used the money to pay her credit card bills, which included charges for food, numerous restaurants, shopping, and other everyday expenses. She also allegedly used the money to pay for utilities and other household expenses.

The alleged theft was discovered after the church board learned that the church’s bills were not being paid.

page1image25687872The treasurer reviewed the finances for the previous years and discovered that, as a result of her alleged theft, there were insufficient funds to pay the church’s legitimate expenses. Hirsch was fired after the discovery and moved to Florida shortly afterwards.

On April 10 Hirsch was arrested in Florida and was thereafter extradited to Suffolk County.

On May 2 Hirsch was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei for Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a Class C felony.

Justice Mazzei ordered Hirsch released from jail without bail because her charge is considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail.

Hirsch is due back in court on June 5 and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count. She is being represented by the Legal Aid Society.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Miller of the Financial Crimes Bureau and the investigation was conducted by Detective Thomas Speciale of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Section.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

The Defendant Left the Toddler in Critical Condition that Required Emergency Surgery

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 1 that a Huntington Station man, 33, was sentenced to 23 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision after a jury found him guilty of Assault in the First Degree and related charges for beating his girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter, causing life-threatening injuries.

“Suffolk will not tolerate violence against children,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I thank the jury for holding the defendant accountable for this vicious beating of a toddler.”

The evidence at trial established that, between February 17, 2024, and February 19, 2024, the defendant was babysitting his girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter while she went to work and ran errands. Upon returning home on February 18, 2024, the child’s mother noticed significant bruises on the child’s body, and on February 19, 2024, she noticed that her child had a new, significant bruise on her face, that her child was vomiting profusely, and that her child was unable to stand or respond to her. The mother brought her child to the emergency room at Huntington Hospital, where it was determined that the child was in critical condition.

The District Attorney’s Office is not naming the defendant in order to avoid identifying the child victim.

page1image23330816The child was then transferred to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, where she received emergency surgery to repair a life-threatening injury to her small intestine, which was caused by significant blunt force trauma.

On February 28, 2025, the defendant was convicted after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei for Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class D violent felonies; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor.

On May 1, the defendant was sentenced to 23 years in prison followed by 5 years of post- release supervision. He was represented by Matthew Tuohy, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Katherine Flinchum and Kirsten Reilly of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Christopher Albanese of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Section.

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Steven Musgrove

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 1that Steven Musgrove, 29, of Selden, was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for possessing a loaded and defaced firearm.

“We will not tolerate felons illegally carrying firearms in our community,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This repeat offender’s history of violent criminality mandates his removal from our streets. We commend the alert bartender and responding officers whose quick actions led to this conviction.”

The evidence at trial established that, on March 22, 2024, Musgrove entered Shakers Pub in Oakdale just before it closed for the night and began having a conversation with the bartender. When a Suffolk County Police Department Sergeant entered Shakers Pub to conduct a routine check of the bar’s liquor license, Musgrove went to the other end of the bar and placed a loaded handgun in the trash before exiting the building. After Musgrove left, the bartender looked into the garbage can, saw the firearm, and alerted the Sergeant.

Law enforcement recovered a loaded and defaced black handgun with an extended magazine from inside the trash can. Video surveillance from the bar showed Musgrove placing the handgun in the trash can. DNA testing also revealed the presence of Musgrove’s DNA on the firearm, the magazine, and an ammunition cartridge.

On March 26, 2025, Musgrove was found guilty of one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a Class E felony, after a jury trial heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz.

Prior to his conviction in this case, Musgrove was previously convicted on Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony in 2014, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, in 2017.

On April 29, 2025, Musgrove was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison. He was represented by Pierre Bazile, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kieran R. Rogers and Patrick J. Mullen of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective David Leath of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Squad. Significant assistance in the investigation was provided by Jeannie Miller and James Valenti of the Suffolk County Crime Lab and Research Analyst Brooke Baade of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

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Photo courtesy of SCPD
Photo courtesy of SCPD
Photo courtesy of SCPD

Marvin Sandoval and Charles Weiss to Pay $15,000 in Combined Fines

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on April 29 that Marvin Sandoval, 29, of Ronkonkoma, and Charles Weiss, 33, of Coram, pleaded guilty to dumping a pile of construction waste and household debris in a remote wooded area within the protected Long Island Central Pine Barrens Region.

“Suffolk will not tolerate illegal dumping,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office will protect every square inch of natural space in this county and will respond with swift and aggressive prosecution whenever it is threatened.”

According to court documents and the defendants’ admissions during their guilty plea allocutions, on November 6, 2024, Weiss and Sandoval, as part of a hired job, loaded a U-Haul box truck with construction waste and household debris and then drove into a remote wooded area within the Long Island Central Pine Barrens Region where they dumped the contents of the truck onto the forest floor. The materials they dumped consisted of pieces of wood furniture, used paint cans, paint rollers, shower doors, chandeliers, large pieces of styrofoam, a sink, a granite countertop, tools, and multiple bags of household garbage.

The defendants’ conduct was uncovered by two civilian witnesses who had the good conscience and initiative to contact law enforcement. A joint investigation between the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Park Rangers, and the Town of Riverhead Police Department identified Weiss and Sandoval, who had solicited a job of cleaning up a house for a $1,000 fee and then, instead of properly disposing of the materials, selected the Pine Barrens as their dump site. The pair was quickly called back to the site by law enforcement and directed to remediate the dumping.

On February 19, 2025, Weiss pleaded guilty to the charge of violating section 433-6 of the Suffolk County Code (the Evergreen Law) before Riverhead Town Justice Court Judge Sean Walter and was ordered to pay $7,500 in fines. He was represented by Brandon Abbattiello, Esq.

On April 29, 2025, Sandoval pleaded guilty to the charge of violating section 433-6 of the Suffolk County Code (the Evergreen Law) before Riverhead Town Justice Court Judge Sean Walter and was ordered to pay $7,500 in fines. He was represented by Daniel Rodgers, Esq.

Per the Evergreen initiative, the Good Samaritans who reported the dumping will be receiving their monetary awards.

About the Evergreen Initiative

In December 2023, District Attorney Raymond Tierney, County Executive Ed Romaine, and Sheriff Errol Toulon, along with leadership of the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Suffolk County Park Rangers, Long Island Pine Barrens Law Enforcement Commission, and Crime Stoppers, announced the Suffolk County Evergreen Initiative – a collaborative plan to curb illegal dumping on county property and within the Central Pine Barrens Region by ramping up and coordinating enforcement, imposing harsher fines, and enhancing civilian incentive to report dumpers.

In early 2024, the Suffolk County Legislature amended Suffolk County Code § 433-7 to raise the maximum fines for dumping in the Pine Barrens Region to $15,000 for individuals and $25,000 for corporations. It additionally mandated that 33% of fines collected from convictions under the statute would be remitted to members of the public who provided information leading to the arrest and conviction of offenders. This award was designed to spur the interest and assistance of the public in identifying and preventing illegal dumping in this largely unsurveilled area.

The Evergreen Initiative thus relies heavily on deterrence and citizen stewardship as a means of protecting an otherwise vulnerable and voiceless victim. The amendments were thereafter signed into law by the County Executive and enacted in March 2024.

About the Pine Barrens

The Long Island Pine Barrens Region, also referred to as the Long Island Pine Barrens Preserve, Central Pine Barrens Area, Core Preservation Area or Compatible Growth Area, is Long Island’s largest natural area and its last remaining wilderness, covering more than 100,000 acres.
The Pine Barrens Region overlays and recharges a vast portion of Long Island’s sole-source aquifer. All of Long Island’s drinking water comes from underground wells fed by this aquifer. The majority of the Carmans River and Peconic River and their watersheds exist within the Pine Barrens. The Pine Barrens are a vital stopping point for various species of migratory birds and Long Island’s last undisturbed home to a vast array of local wildlife.

The health of all of Long Island is utterly dependent on the integrity of the Pine Barrens. In recognition of its extreme ecological significance – not just as a wildlife preserve but sole source of drinking water – New York State enacted the Long Island Pine Barrens Maritime Reserve Act in 1990 and, along with it, the Central Pine Barrens joint planning and policy commission.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Adriana Noyola and Jeremy Williams of the District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Thomas Smith of the Suffolk County Police Department’s District Attorney Squad, with investigative assistance provided by members of the Suffolk County Park Rangers.

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Russell Defreitas

Russell Defreitas was Convicted after a Jury Trial of 92 Counts

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on April 29 that Russell Defreitas, 55, of Holbrook, also known as “Merc,” was sentenced to 53 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of Operating as a Major Drug Trafficker, and 91 other charges, for his role in a large-scale cocaine and fentanyl trafficking operation in Suffolk County which caused two fentanyl overdose deaths.

“Today’s sentencing of this major trafficker, while significant, highlights the urgent need for stronger legislation. The passage of Chelsey’s Law in New York State would give prosecutors additional tools to hold dealers accountable when their products cause death,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This defendant’s actions directly led to two overdose fatalities, yet our current laws don’t allow us to charge these preventable deaths as the homicides that they are. Chelsey’s Law would ensure that those who profit from dealing deadly substances face consequences proportionate to the devastation they cause in our communities.”

The evidence at trial established that, in September 2022, law enforcement responded to a fatal overdose in Holbrook. Members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office East End Drug Task Force endeavored to investigate the circumstances surrounding the overdose.

Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement learned that Defreitas was a member of a large-scale organization in Suffolk County that was conspiring to sell substantial amounts of crack cocaine and fentanyl, using loaded firearms to protect their narcotics empire.

On March 9, 2023, a male and female were in a hotel room rented by Defreitas. When the female overdosed in the hotel room, Defreitas directed his associates not to call 911. Defreitas removed drugs and other evidence from the hotel room and then went to eat at a nearby Wendy’s. Hours later, Defreitas allowed one of his associates to call 911. By that time, both the female and male had fatally overdosed in the hotel room.

Defreitas was arrested on March 11, 2023, while staying in another hotel. That same day, members of law enforcement executed search warrants at Defreitas’ hotel room, his trailer in Holbrook, and his vehicle that was used for drug trafficking. During those searches, law enforcement recovered cocaine, fentanyl, two loaded firearms, cutting agents, drug packaging materials, scales used to weigh narcotics, and numerous hotel room key cards. Additionally, at the time of his arrest, Defreitas was found to be in possession of bank cards in the names of two of his overdose victims.

On May 18, 2023, Defreitas testified at a court proceeding on his own behalf. The evidence at trial showed that during that proceeding, he repeatedly lied under oath about his drug dealing activity.

On March 11, 2025, exactly two years after Defreitas was arrested, he was convicted of the following 92 counts, after a jury trial that was conducted before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft:

  •   One count of Operating as a Major Drug Trafficker, a Class A-I felony;
  •   Eight counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Class A-Ifelonies;
  •   10 counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, Class A-IIfelonies;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a ClassA-II felony;
  •   One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony;
  •   Six counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class Bfelonies;
  •   45 counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class Bfelonies;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies;
  •   Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, Class D violent felonies;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class D felony;
  •   Three counts of Perjury in the First Degree, a Class D felony;
  •   One count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E felony;
  •   Five counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, ClassA misdemeanors; and
  •   Six counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, Class Amisdemeanors.
    On April 29, 2025, Defrietas was sentenced to 53 years in prison. He represented himself.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jacob T. Kubetz and Raquel G. Tisi of the Narcotics Bureau, with assistance from Paralegal Lisa Zimmerman, Research Analyst Brooke Baade, and Investigative Auditor Carlos Gutama, of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation was conducted by Detective Investigator William Warren of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office’s East End Task Force.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

George Hackett Pleaded Guilty in March to Speeding While Impaired by Drugs When He Caused a Fatal Two-Car Crash and Then Fled the Scene

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on April 29 that George Hackett, 54, of Wading River, was sentenced to eight to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty in March to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, and other related charges, for his involvement in the June 2023 high-speed crash on Sunrise Highway in East Quogue that caused the death of Franklin Blake, 82, of Queens.

Franklin Blake

“Today’s sentencing is just, but it can never heal the tragic loss of the Blake family,” said District Attorney Tierney. “The defendant’s reckless decision to drive at excessive speed showed a complete disregard for human life and safety. Our office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who endanger public safety on our roadways.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on June 8, 2023, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Hackett was under the influence of a combination of THC, a compound that is the main active ingredient of cannabis, and Xanax while driving a black 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe eastbound on Sunrise Highway in East Quogue.

Hackett was driving between Exits 64 and 65 at speeds up to 113 miles per hour when he struck the rear end of a 2010 Nissan Armada operated by the victim, Franklin Blake. Blake’s car was thrown into the woods, and Blake died as a result of the injuries that he sustained in the crash.

Hackett’s vehicle rolled over but landed upright, and he continued driving eastbound on Sunrise Highway until his car broke down less than a mile east of the crash site. Hackett was found more than a mile away from his vehicle, walking on Route 24 in Flanders away from the crash scene. At the time of the crash, Hackett was on parole for Assault in the First Degree. He had three prior Driving While Intoxicated convictions, once in 1995 and twice in 2016.

On March 28, 2025, Hackett pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski to the following charges:

  •   Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a Class B felony;
  •   Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
  •   Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class D felony;
  •   Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;
  •   Driving While Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs, a Class D felony;
  •   Two counts of Driving While Impaired by Drugs, a Class D felonies; and
  •   Reckless Driving, an unclassified misdemeanor.

    On April 29, 2025, Justice Pilewski sentenced Hackett to eight to 16 years in prison. The District Attorney’s Office recommended that the defendant be sentenced 12 1⁄2 to 25 years in prison, the maximum sentence on the top count of the indictment. He was represented by Ian Fitzgerald, Esq.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Raymond Varuolo and James McCormack of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Investigator Michael Milbauer of the New York State Police.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on April 17 that a 15-year-old defendant was indicted for Murder in the Second Degree and Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, for his killing his grandmother by stabbing her over 35 times and also stabbing his mother causing her serious physical injuries.

According to the investigation, on April 7, 2025, at approximately 9:40 p.m., the defendant was arguing with his mother when she confronted him about missing classes at school. The defendant’s grandmother told her daughter, the defendant’s mother, to take the 15-year-old’s computer away as a punishment. At that point, the 15-year-old grabbed a knife and stabbed his grandmother and then turned the knife on his mother. After being stabbed, the mother fell to the ground and played dead. At that point, the 15-year-old turned back to his grandmother and continued to stab her. The defendant’s grandmother died at the scene, and the defendant’s mother was taken to a hospital, where she is still recovering from her injuries.

On April 16, 2025, the defendant was arraigned on the indictment before Judge Karen Kerr, for Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony, and Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony.

Judge Karen Kerr ordered the defendant be remanded during the pendency of the case. The defendant is due back in court on May 21, 2025, and faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count. He is being represented by Peter Mayer, Esq.

“This is an exceptionally tragic case that has devastated a family,” said District Attorney Tierney. “When a child allegedly turns violent against their own family members, it creates layers of trauma that extend far beyond physical injuries. Our office will pursue justice for the victims of these horrific acts.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dena Rizopoulos of the Homicide Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Michael Ronca of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.

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