MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Roosevelt man was arraigned today on grand jury indictment charges for a fatal 2017 crash that killed his 19-year-old girlfriend.
Kevin Reyes, 19, was arraigned today before Judge Helene Gugerty on charges of:
- Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony)
- Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree (a D felony)
- Two counts of Assault in the Third Degree (an A misdemeanor)
- Two Counts of Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor)
- Criminal Mischief in the Fourth degree (an A misdemeanor)
Bail was set at $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash and the defendant is due back in court on October 23. If convicted of the top count he faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison.
“Street racing is a dangerous activity that jeopardizes the lives of everyone on our roadways and often leads to death and life-changing injuries,” DA Singas said. “This defendant’s alleged actions led to the death of an innocent 19-year old woman and my condolences are with her family.”
DA Singas said on November 12, 2017, at approximately 4:15 am, the defendant was driving his black 2004 Acura eastbound on Old Country Road when he and another driver pulled up next to each other just east of Manetto Hill Road. The two vehicles proceeded to race each other at excessive speeds eastbound on Old Country Road until they reached Round Swamp Road when the defendant lost control of his vehicle and crashed the car into a home on Round Swamp Road.
The force of the crash caused the vehicle to flip into the second story of the home and killed the front seat passenger, the defendant’s girlfriend, 19-year-old Shakira Garcia. The defendant and two backseat passengers were seriously injured.
At the time of the incident, the defendant and the occupants of the car were believed to be traveling to Deer Park from a party on Staten Island where they celebrated Ms. Garcia’s birthday. Ms. Garcia turned 19 two days before the crash and left behind a two-year-old child.
Following a year-long investigation, the defendant turned himself into the Nassau County Police Department today.
The investigation is ongoing.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Martha Kousiaris and Assistant District Attorney Melissa Salsone of DA Singas’ Vehicular Crimes Bureau are prosecuting this case. The defendant is represented by Robert Brunetti, Esq.
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