SHIRLEY, NY – In a shocking turn of events, Jennifer Nelson, a 35-year-old resident of Shirley, has been sentenced to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison for her involvement in a hit-and-run incident. The incident, which took place on October 7, 2022, involved Nelson hitting a 15-year-old boy with her car multiple times before fleeing the scene.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney expressed his outrage at the incident.
“This is a truly horrific event that no child should ever have to endure at the hands of an adult. It is appalling that witnesses describe how the defendant callously left a 15-year-old boy crawling away from her vehicle as she smirked and drove away without remorse. We will not tolerate such thoughtlessness and criminal behavior in Suffolk County.”
During the trial, it was revealed that Nelson had engaged in a verbal altercation with the victim and others at a parking lot of a bagel store. In a fit of rage, she deliberately struck the teenager with her 2020 Honda Passport, causing him to fall to the ground. Shockingly, Nelson then proceeded to drive over the victim, reversing her car, and driving over him once again before fleeing the scene. In an attempt to evade capture, she even traded in her vehicle for a newer model.
The victim suffered severe physical injuries as a result of the incident, including multiple fractures of the pelvis, six fractured ribs, a punctured lung, and numerous bruises and abrasions.
Following a jury trial before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, Nelson was found guilty on September 26, 2023, of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class E felony.
On January 26, 2024, Justice Mazzei sentenced Nelson to 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison. Her defense was led by Katherine Fernandez, Esq.
The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant District Attorneys Veronica M. McMahon, Tara K. O’Donnell, and James J. O’Rourke, IV of the Major Crime Bureau. Detective Adam Friedlander from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Seventh Squad, along with Detective Investigators John Roberts and Reginald Sykes from the SCDAO Violent Felony Offense Squad, provided crucial investigative assistance.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible and ethical behavior on public roads. It is essential that drivers prioritize the safety and well-being of others, especially vulnerable individuals such as children.
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