A Baldwin man who pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run incident in Port Washington last year that killed a Lynbrook man was given the maximum sentence Tuesday, Nassau County prosecutors said.
Cosmin Florea, 34, will serve between 2 1/3 to seven years for causing the death of Donald Mooney, 49, whom he struck last August while driving his 2010 Ford Fusion under the influence of drugs and alcohol before leaving the scene, prosecutors said.
In a statement, Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said she urged the county Legislature increase the maximum sentence from five to 15 years, “so the law doesn’t work to encourage drivers to leave.”
Florea pleaded guilty in March to felony charges of vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident without reporting as well as two misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated and a misdemeanor charge of driving while ability impaired by the combined use of alcohol and drugs.
The crash took place at 11:57 p.m. on Aug. 15, 2014 on Main Street in Port Washington, where Mooney was walking west of South Bales Avenue.
Mooney was taken to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, where he later died from his injuries.
Florea fled the scene and later told a police officer in Queens he hit a deer and sustained damage to his windshield, prosecutors said. He was arrested by Port Washington and Nassau County police.
During his plea, Florea admitted to having a .13 blood alcohol content and active marijuana in his blood nearly three hours after the crash.
