The Spring Valley man who pleaded guilty in a road rage incident that left an infant dead received a sentence of 1 1/3 to four years in prison Tuesday.
The Rockland County District Attorney’s Office says the sentence is part of a plea deal for Albert Gomez, 63, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November.
As YWN had reported, the 38-year-old mother and her kids – two girls ages 13 and 9 and a 3-month old boy in a stroller – were all walking along the westbound shoulder of the roadway when they were hit by a gold colored Toyota Corolla sedan driven by 62-year-old Albert Gomez, of Spring Valley.
Gomez became angry at a taxi driver in traffic and passed on the vehicle on the passenger side, police said.
His car struck Mrs Braun, her 13- and 9-year-old daughters, and three-month old son, Mayer Braun.
Meyer R”L died from his injuries less than two weeks later at Westchester Medical Center.
The judge said he would have sentenced Gomez to more time in prison if it were up to him.
Gomez was originally indicted on charges of second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree assault and third-degree. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November.
(Charles Gross – YWN)
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12 Responses
Corruption on top of corruption. OJ also walked after brutally murdering 2 people.
And yet Reb SM Rubashkin gets 27 years.
Outrageous?
I understand the motive for creating a plea bargain, saving the state from the expense of making the case in court. However, when the prosecutor shrinks the consequence of murder this low, the system becomes a comedy. There are some prosecutors who need to be hung out to dry. The judge should also have a say in the offer of a plea bargain.
I think 4 years is long enough, unfortunately America has very long sentencing guidelines when you compare to Europe which effects us (the Jewish community). I definitely agree that a murderer should be put away for life but only if that was his attention not if he just drove wild. Don’t get me wrong, I do agree that this guy should go to jail, but locking him up for life won’t help any of us. Let him get the punishment he deserves and than let him try to rebuild his life. So many people get such long sentences and what is the point, it just costs taxpayers more money. And the longer their in jail the less of a chance that that won’t return to real crime. Jail make people even bigger criminals. Its time to reform the sentencing guidelines.
This sentence is despicable.
Before anyone comments on that it’s unsafe to walk on such a busy road, while sidewalks would be appropriate, the shoulder is still very wide and this should happen. The driver is a criminal and belongs in jail.
He didn’t intentionally kill someone. I am not trying to whitewash him, but, maybe he’ll be a better person after his jail term. Jailing someone longer doesn’t necessarily make people better.
Bkaufman613 and basmelech1, you are bith wrong. One and a third years for snuffing out a life due to rage is wholly inappropriate and disproportionate. There is a stark difference to 1 and 1/3 years to a life sentence – there’s something in between. As for the judge, he could reject a plea bargain. Why he didn’t should raise eyebrows.
The judge could’ve rejected the plea deal.
Basmelech…. any drunk driver doesn’t kill anyone intentionaly and yet they are sentenced for much longer. This is clearly a very light sentence
If a 20 yr old frum girl was texting and killed someone we would all try to keep her from going to jail despite her negligence (actual recent case).
This was negligence. Jails are horrible dehumanizing places . Only violent offenders belong there. Putting him in a horrible place doesn’t bring the child back.
Let’s say the judge rejects the plea deal. The maximum for this offense is 5 to 15 years, not life imprisonment. What if he goes to trial and the jury is either deadlocked or votes “not guilty”? The guy walks and gets no jail time. Would you rather see the plea bargain or take a chance of having him found not guilty?
Its also OUTRAGEOUS that a new square arsonist got less then 3 years for intentionally wanting to set a house on fire while an entire family was in there at the time. Luckily no one died but mr. rottenberg almost didnt make it. He was in the hospital for many many months .Totally OUTRAGEOUS!
And the new square handlers managed to get this low life married after a short time after his release!