HUNTINGTON STATION, N.Y. – A 42-year-old Guatemalan national has been convicted of multiple charges, including felony aggravated driving while intoxicated, after prosecutors said he drove with a blood alcohol concentration nearly three times the legal limit.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Walter Danilo Perez Sanchez was found guilty following a jury trial on May 27, 2026. The conviction stems from a March 20, 2025 incident in Huntington Station that began as a reported disturbance and ultimately led to the discovery of an alleged intoxicated driver.
Authorities said Suffolk County Police officers responded to a 911 call reporting a fight involving three men in a parking lot on New York Avenue. During their investigation, officers determined that Perez Sanchez had driven a silver Toyota RAV4 to the location while under the influence of alcohol.
Police reported that Perez Sanchez exhibited several signs of intoxication, including bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech, an odor of alcohol on his breath, and difficulty maintaining his balance. He also reportedly performed poorly during standardized field sobriety tests administered at the scene.
Perez Sanchez later consented to a blood test at Huntington Hospital. Prosecutors said the test revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.22 percent, nearly three times New York State’s legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney noted that Perez Sanchez had multiple prior DWI convictions before this latest incident.
“This defendant had three prior DWI convictions and still chose to drive drunk, demonstrating a continued disregard for our laws,” Tierney said in a statement. “His prior arrests have clearly failed to deter further criminal conduct.”
Court records indicate Perez Sanchez was previously convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2019 and 2023. In April 2024, he pleaded guilty to two felony DWI charges, resulting in his third DWI conviction within ten years.
Following the recent trial, Perez Sanchez was convicted of:
- Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, a Class D felony
- Driving While Intoxicated, a Class D felony
- Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Circumventing an Ignition Interlock Device
Prosecutors sought to have Perez Sanchez remanded into custody following the verdict, but the court denied the request and allowed him to remain released pending sentencing. He is scheduled to return to Suffolk County Court on July 27, 2026, for sentencing. Perez Sanchez faces a potential prison sentence of up to 2⅓ to 7 years.
The case was prosecuted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Perez Sanchez is represented by The Legal Aid Society.
Key Facts and Details
| Defendant | Walter Danilo Perez Sanchez, 42 |
| Residence/Nationality | Guatemalan national |
| Incident Date | March 20, 2025 |
| Location | New York Avenue, Huntington Station, Suffolk County, New York |
| How Investigation Began | Police responded to a 911 call reporting a fight involving three men in a parking lot |
| Vehicle Involved | Silver Toyota RAV4 |
| Blood Alcohol Content | 0.22%, nearly three times New York’s legal limit of 0.08% |
| Signs of Intoxication | Bloodshot and glassy eyes, slurred speech, odor of alcohol, and unsteady balance |
| Conviction Date | May 27, 2026 |
| Major Charges | Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, Driving While Intoxicated, Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Circumventing an Ignition Interlock Device |
| Prior DWI Convictions | 2019, 2023, and 2024 (including two felony DWI counts in 2024) |
| Court | Suffolk County Court |
| Judge | Judge Bryan Browns |
| Sentencing Date | July 27, 2026 |
| Potential Sentence | Up to 2⅓ to 7 years in state prison |
