Lyndon McMullen, of the town of Onondaga, pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.
McMullen was initially charged with second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident in connection with the hit-and-run in 2022 in the town of Onondaga.
Before he took the plea deal, McMullen faced a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison if convicted.
Judge Armen Nazarian — a visiting Oswego County judge – told McMullen in court Thursday that he was authorized to impose a sentence of up to 25 years in prison for a first-degree manslaughter conviction. The judge, instead, offered a sentence of 15 years in exchange for McMullen’s guilty plea.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Anthony Copani said he spoke with the victim’s mother and the two discussed the potential issues that could come up for either side during a trial. Through that discussion, the victim’s mother agreed a plea deal would be best, he said.
But family of the accused disagreed with the plea deal. Some cried as McMullen pled guilty, others left the courtroom.
As McMullen was escorted back to the jail, his family told him they loved him and McMullen said he loved them too.
Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office deputies said McMullen used his white Honda SUV to hit Benjamin Berrios, 65, and Luis Berrios, 24, while they were walking in the 100 block of Meredith Avenue at about 4:27 p.m. on May 5, 2022.
Copani said during another court appearance that the hit-and-run was captured on video. There’s also evidence of a previous dispute between McMullen and Luis Berrios, Copani added.
McMullen contacted a lawyer and turned himself in a week and a half after the crash.
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