Cory Gloe, Farmingdale man awaiting sentencing in fatal crash, rearrested, cops say

A young driver who likely was heading to jail for 6 months for his role in a Farmingdale drag race that left five other teenagers dead now could face many years in prison because of a new arrest, authorities said Wednesday.

A court spokesman said a judge’s “conditional” sentence commitment to Cory Gloe, 19, “is in jeopardy” after Nassau police arrested the Farmingdale man on a felony weapon charge while seizing a knife during a Tuesday night traffic stop.

Gloe pleaded guilty last week to a 17-count indictment that included five manslaughter charges in the May 2014 deaths of Tristan Reichle, 17, Jesse Romero, 18, Carly Lonnborg, 14, Noah Francis, 15, and Cody Talanian, 17. All of the victims either attended or had graduated from Farmingdale High School.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Terence Murphy had said if Gloe didn’t get into any more trouble, he would be sentenced on May 20 to probation and 6 months behind bars under a youthful-offender status that would seal his criminal record.

The promise had sparked outrage among relatives of some of the victims, including members of Lonnborg’s family, who came to Gloe’s arraignment in Hempstead District Court Wednesday.

“He has a blatant disregard for the law. And this just goes to prove his character,” said Mark McGlone, Lonnborg’s uncle. “How many more lives do we have to lose before the system stops giving these slaps on the wrist?”

Carly’s mother, Sandy Lonnborg, said she was “absolutely” incensed by Gloe’s new arrest, and hopes now “that justice gets served.”

“How would you like . . . to think that your child’s life was only worth 24 days in jail? That’s an injustice and a crime against the families,” Lonnborg said, referring to time she expected Gloe to be jailed for Carly’s death under the judge’s prior agreement.

Police said in the new case that they arrested Gloe and the driver of the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo he was riding in after stopping the vehicle at 8:55 p.m. Tuesday in Farmingdale because of an alleged speeding violation. There was a “gravity knife” on the driver’s side floorboard and a small amount of marijuana in the car, according to police. They identified the driver as Adam Rosenthal, 17, of Farmingdale, and arrested him on a fourth-degree weapon-possession charge and fifth-degree marijuana-possession charge before releasing him on an appearance ticket.

Gloe pleaded not guilty Wednesday to third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. District Court Judge Joseph Girardi set the defendant’s bail at $50,000 cash or bond before authorities took him back into custody. Bail had not been posted later Wednesday, online records show.

Gloe’s attorney, Stephen LaMagna, told the judge it was his understanding the vehicle’s driver had admitted to possessing what the lawyer called a “pocket knife” that police found in the car.

Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Dellinger told Girardi the sentence agreement in the manslaughter case was “not a negotiated plea” and whatever happens now in the drag-race case will be up to Murphy. The district attorney’s office has opposed youthful-offender status for Gloe.

Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said Wednesday that he questions whether youthful offender status is appropriate in this case.

“You have an individual that . . . within a week . . . has been rearrested for another offense. He’s got a lot of soul searching to do and I wonder if he’s on the right path.”

During Gloe’s March 10 plea, Murphy had warned he wouldn’t uphold his agreement if Gloe ran afoul of the law again.

“If you get arrested for a new crime between today and your sentence date, my sentence commitment to you will be revoked, including my initial promise to adjudicate you as a youthful offender. You will not be permitted to withdraw your plea of guilty,” Murphy said, while also adding Gloe then could face up to 22 years in prison.

“Do you understand those conditions?” Murphy asked.

“Yes, your honor,” Gloe replied.

In the original case, authorities said that on May 10, 2014, Gloe goaded Reichle into a street race. Prosecutors said Reichle then lost control, veered into oncoming traffic and crashed, killing all five people in his car and seriously injuring the two people in the sport utility vehicle he hit.

Authorities said Gloe’s 2008 Toyota Scion never made contact with Reichle’s 2001 Nissan Sentra or the SUV.

Court papers also showed Reichle was legally impaired by alcohol at the time, and prosecutors said he would have faced criminal liability if he had survived.

Gloe is due back in court Friday.

With Nicole Fuller