LI CRIME BRIEFS

PATCHOGUE/Driver sentenced 3 to 9 years in fatal car crash

A Patchogue man was sentenced yesterday to three to nine years in prison for a January 2008 car crash that killed a school custodian on his way home from work.

Gary Spinelli, 54, had pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter. He originally had been charged with driving while intoxicated after the accident that killed Vincent LaTorre, 50, of Patchogue.

"Our sentence began Jan. 24, 2008, and there is no end to our sentence," LaTorre's wife, Donna, said in court before State Supreme Court Justice Robert Doyle pronounced Spinelli's sentence.

"I'm here to be a reminder that you took someone very loved by us," she said.

LaTorre, a custodian at Bellport High School, was driving on South Country Road near Hedges Road in East Patchogue at 11:38 p.m. when Spinelli crossed a double-yellow line and crashed into LaTorre's car, police said at the time. LaTorre's car flipped over, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Spinelli, who was hospitalized with chest trauma, had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, police said then.

Yesterday, dressed in a suit and tie as he appeared in court, Spinelli said he was "very, very sorry" and apologized to LaTorre's family.

- Carl MacGowan

LONG ISLAND/Police to participate in seat belt campaign

In an effort to increase child safety, police in both Nassau and Suffolk counties will participate in a state-sponsored seat-belt enforcement campaign for the next two weeks.

The idea, police said, is to reinforce the need to make sure all front-seat passengers wear seat belts as required by law, while all rear-seat passengers under age 16 also must wear seat belts or be secured in an approved child-safety seat.

The enforcement campaign will run Monday though June 6.

Police will conduct checkpoint stops and add patrols, all aimed at enforcement of other violations - including tailgating, speeding, red-light running, driving while under the influence and reckless driving.

Of primary emphasis will be seat-belt compliance.

Under state law, all children under age 4 must be restrained in an approved child safety seat or a child restraint system if the child weighs less than 40 pounds. All children ages 4 to 7 also must be restrained in an approved restraint system, while all front-seat passengers must wear a seat belt, police said. As must all rear-seat passengers - under age 16.

- JOHN VALENTI

SEAFORD/Cops: Maryland man was carrying machete in car

A Maryland man pulled over on traffic violations on the Southern State Parkway in Seaford was found to be carrying a machete and a forged U.S. government permanent resident ID card, State Police said.

According to police spokesman Frank Bandiero, Jose Yanez, 30, was speeding, tailgating and changing lanes without signaling when he was pulled over Sunday night by Trooper Tifini Atai on the eastbound side of the Southern State near Exit 29. The name on a forged identification document did not match the name police found on a pay stub in his possession, Bandiero said. He did not disclose the name on the forged ID document. A search of the red Kia Sephia also found a machete, police said.

Yanez was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, obstructing government administration, resisting arrest, as well as several traffic violations.

Nassau County district attorney spokeswoman said bail was set yesterday at $1,000 bond or cash, and Yanez is due back in court tomorrow.

- GARY DYMSKI AND CARL CORRY