White Plains, NY, August 31, 2010 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Ricardo Martinez-Arenas (DOB 02/29/76) of 140 Grove Street, Stamford, Connecticut plead guilty today to:
• one count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a class “C” Felony,
• one count of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, a class “A” Misdemeanor.
On April 24th, 2010, at approximately 2:36 AM the defendant was operating his motor vehicle the wrong way on Interstate 684, driving southbound in the northbound lanes, in the Town of Lewisboro.
His vehicle struck a vehicle traveling northbound head on, injuring the three occupants of the car. The three young women aged 18-21 were returning home from a barbeque.
The operator of the car was seriously injured and is currently in a wheelchair.
In addition his car caught fire on impact.
New York State Police responded to the scene. The defendant was found to be operating the vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .19 almost two and one half times the legal limit of .08.
Sentencing will be on October 19th, 2010.
The defendant faces a maximum of five to fifteen years in state prison.
Assistant District Attorney Alexis Celestin of the Superior Court Trial Division prosecuted the case.
