Man pleads guilty to DWI crash that killed Nassau officer, faces up to 22 years in prison
According to prosecutors, Matthew Smith’s actions on Jan. 30 and into the early hours of Jan. 31 began with a series of stops where he consumed alcohol despite being under the legal drinking age.
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Matthew Smith has pleaded guilty to causing the death of Nassau police officer Patricia Espinosa in a high-speed, alcohol-fueled crash.
The then 20-year-old admitted he had been drinking for hours at multiple establishments where he was allegedly not asked for identification.
Smith changed his plea from not guilty to guilty Thursday to several charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, in connection with the Jan. 31 crash that killed Espinosa in St. James.
“This family is destroyed. You want to talk about closure? There’s no closure,” said Thomas Shevlin, president of the Nassau Police Benevolent Association.
Prosecutors said Smith began drinking in the afternoon of Jan. 30 and continued into the early morning hours of Jan. 31, purchasing and consuming alcohol at several locations despite being under the legal drinking age. Authorities allege he was not asked for identification at any of the establishments he visited.
In court, Smith admitted to buying alcohol at a Hauppauge liquor store on Jan. 29, then drinking at a friend’s home in Miller Place the following day. He later went to multiple bars and restaurants in Miller Place, Hauppauge and Patchogue, where he continued drinking.
Prosecutors say Smith attempted to enter Jake’s 58 casino early on Jan. 31 but was turned away. At approximately 6:07 a.m., he was driving a friend home in St. James when he ran a stop sign at about 70 miles per hour and crashed into Espinosa’s vehicle.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney described Espinosa as “a mom, a devoted wife and sister and daughter.”
“This type of conduct has consequences,” Tierney said.
“By doing this in a quick fashion it prevents the Espinosa family from having to come to court repeatedly and having to endure a trial,” La Pinta said.
The owner of Aqua Vitae Wines and Liquors in Hauppauge denied knowingly selling alcohol to an underage individual and said no investigators had contacted the store.
News 12 continues to make attempts to reach other establishments named by prosecutors.
Smith faces up to 22 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20.
