LI Man Charged Under Leandra’s Law: Suffolk Sheriff

PATCHOGUE, NY — A Patchogue man has been charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra’s Law for having three young children in his car while under the influence of alcohol early Sunday morning, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office said.

Leandra’s Law is named after 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, who was killed in an alleged drunk driving accident in 2009. It makes it a felony for first time offender who drives with a Blood Alcohol Level over .08 % with someone under the age of 15 in the car.

Jose Lorenti, 32, was stopped on Waverly Avenue in Patchogue at about 12:14 a.m. with three minor passengers, Sheriff Errol Toulon’s office said Monday.

Lorenti, who has been previously convicted of DWI, was charged with felony DWI, as well as three counts each of aggravated DWI with a child and endangering the welfare of a child, as well as felony DWI. He was additionally charged with circumventing an ignition interlock device, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, and other state vehicle and traffic law violations.

The lab results from Lorentit’s blood, which was drawn under a warrant, are pending and Child Protective Services was notified of his arrest, the sheriff’s office said.

Toulon credited the members of his office’s DWI Enforcement Team, noting that they are out on the county’s roads “to keep the public safe.”

“In this case, they not only prevented an intoxicated driver from causing an accident with another driver or a pedestrian, but they potentially saved the lives of three young children in the vehicle,” he said. “I am proud of their ongoing vigilance in protecting the residents of Suffolk County.”