On Tuesday, a Freeport man pleaded guilty in Nassau County Court for causing a fatal accident in 2022 while driving drunk. Dante Lennon, 23, admitted to driving his Mercedes-Benz twice the speed limit on Jericho Turnpike and colliding with a car full of family members returning from a Sweet Sixteen party. The crash resulted in the death of three passengers and injured three others, including Lennon.
The deceased include Marlene Luu, 66, the mother of the party host, Hoa Ho, 68, and Tu Nguyen, 41. Lennon remained at the scene after the accident.
Following this tragic incident, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly stated that instead of being a pleasant family memory, this Sweet Sixteen party was turned into a terrible tragedy due to Lennon’s reckless behavior. Patrick Ryder, Nassau County Police Commissioner, pledged to get tough on drunk drivers in response to the crash.
Lennon pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts each of aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, assault, and drunk driving. Although he could have faced 25 years in prison, his plea may result in a lower sentence. His lawyer, Robert Schalk, stated that the day of the plea was a sorrowful one for all involved, and acknowledged that Lennon had assumed responsibility for the crash.
The district attorney’s office has proposed a sentence between seven and 21 years. Lennon’s final judgement will be handed down on June 5.
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