Stephen Dolan pleaded guilty to fleeing the scene after fatally striking 16-year-old CJ Hackett with his van on McLean Avenue in August 2022.
The accident
On August 2nd, 2022, 16-year-old CJ Hackett‘s promising life was tragically cut short. He and best friend AJ were riding their e-bike and scooter in and around Coyne Park late Tuesday night. They turned onto McLean Avenue to return home when a van struck CJ. With CJ unresponsive and bleeding from his head, AJ called emergency services as the van absconded from the scene. CJ later succumbed to his wounds in hospital surrounded by his loved ones.
The Yonkers Police Department apprehended 46-year-old Stephen Dolan the day after the incident. Authorities accuse Dolan of excessive alcohol consumption on the night of the crash, a charge he later confessed to, further stating that he mistook CJ Hackett for a road cone.
The court proceedings
In a Westchester County court appearance, Dolan faced charges of “leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident–injury resulting in death.” Prosecutors presented compelling evidence of Dolan’s heavy drinking that night, supported by video footage showing him consuming 17 drinks across two bars.
Recently, however, CJ’s family grew worried at the direction of the case. On August 24th, prosecutor James Bavero informed the Hackett family that the court was urging a plea deal instead of a jury trial. This deal could potentially result in Dolan serving a mere 14 months behind bars.
“I want him in jail for a long time, not for two years. Killed too good of a kid to go away for two years.”
Christopher Hackett – CJ Hackett’s father
In response, supporters created an online petition calling for the maximum punishment for Dolan. Additionally, New York State Assemblyman Nader Sayegh also rebuked this potentially light sentence. In his proposed bill called, “CJ’s Law” Sayegh requests that leaving a scene that resulted in the death of a minor be upgraded to a Class C felony.
Over a year after the death of CJ Hackett, Dolan submitted his guilty plea on Thursday, September 14th. While he will surrender himself next week to serve at least 18 to 48 months behind bars, the final sentence will not be delivered until December.
Following the guilty plea, the Westchester County District Attorney stated its desire for a harsh sentence.
We have been committed to seeking justice for CJ and his family, and have consistently recommended to the Court that the defendant receive the maximum sentence of two and one-third to seven years in state prison upon a guilty plea or verdict for the top charge of Vehicular Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree.
