Mahwah Community Activist William Almonte Gets Maximum Probation, Community Service in DWI Accident That Seriously Injured Teen Neighbor
By Mary K. Miraglia
HACKENSACK, N.J. (April 17, 2017) — A self-described Mahwah community activist who backed down his driveway while drunk and seriously injured a neighbor’s daughter pleaded guilty Monday, April 17 to disorderly persons drunk driving and causing injury by auto, and was sentenced to the maximum period of probation allowed.
William Almonte, 44, told Judge Christopher Kazlau he was very sorry and “I want to express my apology to the victim for what I did.”
But the judge questioned his commitment.
“It seems as if no one takes this seriously,” Kazlau, obviously frustrated, said. “We sentence offenders like you to one year, two years, three years — but then an individual like yourself thinks Oh, I’ll just get in the car and back up — and you injure someone for life.
“It’s a hardship to you and your family, but that’s short term. To the victim, it’s going to be for a lifetime. You drink and you just can’t get into a car. You are 44, an upstanding member of the community, and you have to stand up in court and plead guilty to an offense.”
The accident happened near the end of a Memorial Day weekend party at Almonte’s Aspen Court home last May 29. The 13-year old daughter of Victoria and Tom Stuart was leaving the party and being picked up in the cul de sac by her father. At the same time, Almonte backed down his driveway and into the cul de sac, pinning the girl against the front of her father’s car and causing serious injuries to her legs.
Her mother told the judge the injuries to her daughter have impacted the family hard, and her daughter Julie’s recovery is going to take years. A talented athlete, she loved running and was a passionate lacrosse player. She has just turned 14 and can’t participate in those sports this year.
She told Kazlau that Julie has to go to therapy four times a week. She had surgery last August and will always have a scar down the front of her leg.
“Julie is an athlete, she loves to run, and her passion is lacross,” Victoria Stuart said. “She just turned 14, and can’t participate this year.” She read a note from her daughter that said she went through a great deal of pain and is disappointed that she can’t run or play lacrosse. But she said the biggest disappointment was losing her friendship with Almonte’s daughter, that it’s hard being out in public, and sometimes when she hears a car or sees one back up the accident flashes back in her mind and makes her frightened.
Defense attorney Raymond Flood of Hackensack appealed to Kazlau not to suspend Almonte’s drivers’ license, saying he uses it in his business and it would be an extreme hardship. But the judge said it was necessary. Flood said Almonte has been very active in the community and was friends of the Stuarts. “He is very upset by what happened,” Flood said.
Citing a strong need to deter “this kind of behavior,” Kazlau sentenced Almonte to three years probation, “the maximum term allowed,” 50 hours of community service, drug and alcohol testing, 12 hours of training in the Intoxicated Drug and Resource Center, and about $680 in fines. His driver’s license, which he needs in his business, is suspended for seven months. Questioned by the judge, Almonte said he would hire a driver for that time period.
