Taimoor Rana is seasoned criminal defense attorney specializing in DUI related cases. He shares his expert legal opinion here « Man gets Maximum for Death of Friend in DWI Crash
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- Today, a young man got the maximum penalty from court for causing the death of a friend. The death was caused due to a drunken-driving crash. The driver was also driving without a license due to a previous DWI conviction.
Judge Alex R. Renzi of Monroe County Court sentenced Aaron M. Boop to prison for five to 15 years for the death of Nicholas A. Zajac in Wheatland on Oct. 21, 2008.
The trial was carried out last month for the first degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, driving while intoxicated and driving without a license. Boop, 20, of Avon, Livingston County was convicted in the trial.
Boop, before he was sentenced, apologized to the court saying that a long prison term would separate him from his wife and newborn son. Boop asked for forgiveness saying that he didn’t mean for this to happen. He said that the victim’s parents lost their son and he will lose his as his son might not accept him as his father if he goes away for a long time.
But Renzi did not take the apology into consideration saying that he doubted Boop’s sincerity. Renzi said that Boop probably feels sorry for himself rather than his friend who died.
When the accident happened, Boop had a blood-alcohol content of 0.20 percent , which is more than twice the level needed for a DWI charge. Boop lost control of his pickup truck at Beulah and Vallance roads and hit a tree. Zajac was ejected and died at Strong Memorial Hospital. Jurors rejected Boop’s claim that Zajac, 16 of Wheatland was driving.
According to the Assistant District Attorney, Perry Duckles, the evidence presented to the jury, including photos of injuries to Zajac caused when he hit the passenger-side windshield, firmly established that Boop was driving.
Boop’s family refused to comment outside court after the sentencing. Zajac’s father, Bill Zajac, said he’s uncertain how to take Boop’s apology.
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