Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that Anthony Correa (age 31), of Providence, pleaded nolo contendere before Providence County Superior Court Magistrate Richard D. Raspallo to charges of driving under the influence, death resulting, stemming from a 2018 automobile crash which claimed the life of a 26-year-old man who was a passenger in the vehicle.
Under the plea agreement, Correa was sentenced to 15 years in prison with 9 years to serve at the Adult Correctional Institution and the remainder suspended with probation. In addition, Correa must pay a $5,000 fine and, his license was suspended for the entire 15 years of probation. Correa was sentenced at a hearing on Thursday, February 28, 2019.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to show that on October 20, 2018, Correa was driving under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana when he lost control of his vehicle on Interstate 95 in Providence and crashed while traveling north-bound near exit 24 (Branch Ave.). Jason Irizarry, the passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead on scene.
The crash was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police. Assistant Attorneys General Jay Sullivan and John Corrigan prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.
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