A SCARSDALE BUSINESSMAN IS SENTENCED TO UP TO 12 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLE DEATHS OF TWO PARKS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that Richard Schwartz, 48, a Scarsdale businessman, has been sentenced to a term of up to 12 years imprisonment for the motor vehicle deaths of two New York City Parks Department Employees in June 2001.

Schwartz, of 21 Morris Lane, Scarsdale was found guilty last April of two counts of Manslaughter in the 2nd degree for the deaths of Patricia Hollinshed, 44, and Marjorie Martinez, 40. State Supreme Court Justice Margaret Clancy, sentenced Schwartz to an indeterminate term of 4 to 12 years imprisonment.

Hollinshed and Martinez were struck and killed when Schwartz, who was driving a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser and traveling at a high rate of speed, plowed into them at the intersection of Bruckner Boulevard and Hunts Point Avenue. After striking the pair, Schwartz continued to drive for about a block with one of the victims on the hood of his vehicle before finally coming to a stop.

A subsequent examination of the defendant revealed that the level of alcohol in his blood was more than twice the legal limit.

Chief Trial Counsel Daniel McCarthy and Assistant District Attorney Kiran Vashishta prosecuted this case.