Man Convicted In Chain-Reaction Crash That Killed Nassau County Officer Sentenced

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A man convicted of setting off a sequence of crashes that killed a Nassau County police officer was sentenced to at least five years in prison Wednesday.

James Ryan, 29, was found guilty last month of vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and other charges in the 2012 death of Officer Joseph Olivieri. Ryan was convicted of 10 of 13 charges, but acquitted of the most serious charge -- aggravated vehicular homicide.

He could serve as much as 12 years in prison.

CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported Ryan vows to appeal the verdict.

Ryan cried at the sentencing, telling Olivieri's family "I deeply regret my actions that night," 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.

But police union president James Carver didn't believe his remorse was genuine, WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported.

"Watching his conduct through the whole trial, I think you can't just make up for it by a couple of tears at the end of the trail after you are convicted," Carver said.

Carver added, "The laws were changed just for an instance such as this."

Ryan's case was based on a relatively new charge -- aggravated criminally negligent homicide. The 28-year-old was found responsible for the officer's death because he made an initial criminal choice.

Ryan was driving under the influence after seven drinks when he crashed into a vehicle on the Long Island Expressway. Oliveri was struck and killed by another vehicle while he was responding to the original crash scene.

Prosecutors said Ryan had spent the night drinking in a Manhattan bar and at the time of the crash had a blood-alcohol level of 0.13, above the state's 0.08 threshold of drunkenness.

"When you decide to drink, when you decide to drive, when you decide to ride on our highways, what happens is that for that crime you'll be held accountable, and for every crime after that," said prosecutor Madeline Singas.

Ryan's attorney intends to appeal the conviction, saying he believes his client is not criminally responsible for the officer's death. CBS2 reports attorney Marc Gann said Ryan felt the system let him down because the driver who actually hit and killed Oliveri was granted immunity.

"What I hope to happen is that the convictions, particularly the death-related charges, are overturned," Gann said. "If that happens, we come back for a new trial."

Ryan's attorneys will ask that he be freed until the appeal can be heard.

Olivieri was a 19-year police veteran — five years with the NYPD and 14 with Nassau County.

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