MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a West Hempstead man was arraigned today on grand jury indictment charges for the fatal Baldwin crash that killed a 21-year-old man in March and injured his parents.
Roy Gomez, 39, was arraigned today before Acting Supreme Court Justice Meryl Berkowitz on charges of:
- Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a B felony)
- Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony)
- Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (a C felony)
- Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a D felony)
- Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony)
- Tampering with Physical Evidence (an E felony)
- Leaving the Scene of an Incident without Reporting with Death (a D felony)
- Two counts of Assault in the Third Degree (an A misdemeanor)
- Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor)
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (an A misdemeanor)
- Two counts of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor)
- Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (an unclassified misdemeanor)
- Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Drugs or of Alcohol (an unclassified misdemeanor)
- Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor)
- Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Drugs (an unclassified misdemeanor)
Bail was set at $250,000 bond or $100,000 cash and the defendant is due back in court on May 1. If convicted of the highest charge he faces 8-1/3 years to 25 years in prison.
“This alleged hit-and-run driver killed an innocent 21-year-old and injured his parents when he rear-ended their car while driving drunk and high, then allegedly hid from police while the family was left in the street,” DA Singas said. The allegations in this case underscore the need for stronger penalties for hit and run drivers in New York.”
DA Singas said on March 13 at approximately 10:15pm, the defendant drove his 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer south on Grand Avenue in Baldwin while intoxicated and impaired by drugs when he rear-ended a Nissan Altima that was stopped for a red traffic signal at Milburn Avenue. The violent impact pushed the rear of the Altima into the passenger compartment, left all three victims trapped inside the vehicle and propelled the Nissan down Grand Avenue. Following the collision, the defendant allegedly fled the scene in his vehicle, parked it a few blocks away and then ran away on foot.
The defendant was later arrested at 3:30am by members of the Freeport and Nassau County Police Departments who found the defendant sleeping in a boat on Woodcleft Avenue in Freeport.
21-year-old Jovanni Bien-Amie of Baldwin died on March 14 from injuries sustained in the crash and his parents, Jacques Bien-Aime and Kettelye Plantin, were also injured.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexander DePalo of DA Singas’ Vehicular Crimes Bureau. The defendant is represented by the Legal Aid Society.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
###