22 Convicted of DWI Face New Charges

Twenty-two drivers convicted of DWI offenses face new charges, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced Monday.

A two-week sweep targeted convicted drunk drivers who are required to use install ignition interlock devices in any vehicle they operate.

The device requires the driver to pass a breath test in order to start the vehicle, as well as “rolling retests” until the vehicle is stopped and turned off. If the device detects alcohol on the driver’s breath, the horn will honk, the lights will flash, and the driver is instructed to stop the car. In some cases the police may respond to investigate.

The two-week sweep, conducted by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with Nassau’s Department of Probation, used surveillance to ensure their compliance.

Ignition interlock devices became mandatory for any drunk driver sentenced on or after Aug. 15, 2010. In all cases, a notice of violation will be sent to Probation, the DA’s Office, and the court. In addition, the vehicle will enter “lockout” mode, preventing the car from starting if the driver does not report to the service provider.

Some of the drivers were caught leaving their homes, but most were arrested after driving illegally to meet with their probation officers. The Department of Probation and the District Attorney’s Office will continue to conduct spot checks on convicted drunk drivers going forward. A judge can sentence each of the defendants to up to a year in jail if convicted, as well as re-sentence them on their underlying DWI case.

“Ignition interlocks protect innocent drivers and pedestrians by forcing drunk drivers to prove that they are sober when they get behind the wheel,” Rice said. “These arrests should send a clear message that law enforcement is watching convicted drunk drivers closely, and this sting is just the beginning of a broader effort to ensure compliance with the ignition interlock law.”

The following defendants were charged with operating a motor vehicle without a court-ordered interlock and driving with suspended license:

• James Lynch, 27, of Baldwin
• Jason Aragon, 30, of East Rockaway
• Darrell Hampton, 35, of Freeport
• Kenneth Hock, 47, of Rockville Centre
• Daniel Dillon, 26, of Baldwin
• Christopher Demir, 22, of Bethpage
• Maria Kinalis, 23, of Bethpage
• Farhan Khan, 22, of Franklin Square
• Jose Bermudez, 32, of Hempstead
• Steven Jones, 36, of Elmont
• Patrick Roberts, 41, of Uniondale
• Bryan Negrete, 20, of Freeport
• Peter Siciliano, 50, of Plainview
• Fred Beale 56, of Elmont
• John Mollo, 32, of Franklin Square
• Kevin Mack, 38, of Freeport
• Christopher Ramos, 42, of Glen Head
• Mitchell Bogdanov, 24, of Bayside
• Brian Pymm, 26, of Kings Point
• Christine Colasanto, 28, of Valley Stream

Two more defendants, Silvana Miranda, 37, of Brooklyn, and William Mauz, 32, of Bethpage, were arrested and charged with driving with a suspended license.