Bail Reform: Jordan Randolph Indicted In Crash That Killed Long Island Man, 'I'll Be Out Tomorrow'
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y (CBSNewYork) -- A suspect at the center of the bail reform battle on Long Island appeared in court Thursday.
Jordan Randolph is accused of killing a man in a DWI crash.
Clad in handcuffs and escorted by police, Jordan Randolph was formally indicted in Suffolk County Court, CBS2's Nick Caloway reported.
He pleaded not guilty to a list of two dozen charges, including seven counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of driving while intoxicated, plus one count each of manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault, fleeing from police, and circumventing his ignition interlock device.
Randolph is accused of drunk driving in a Jan. 12 crash that killed 27-year-old Jonathan Flores-Maldonado.
The victim's family said the suspect should never have been on the road. Earlier in the January, Randolph was released with an appearance ticket for allegedly interfering with his ignition interlock device.
A Suffolk judge claimed his hands were tied and released him with no bail despite six felony convictions, six misdemeanor convictions, and five failures to appear in court.
After his release, Randolph allegedly drove drunk again, at speeds of more than 130 mph, and was involved in a crash that claimed the life of Flores-Maldonado, a SUNY-Buffalo graduate.
"He was the one that was mowed down on the damn highway," said Lillian Flores, the victim's mother.
She blames the new bail reform law for her son's death, saying Randolph should have been in jail instead of driving around.
Randolph's arrest and release has been cited as an example of the complex and controversial reform law.
Prosecutors say Randolph told police after the crash, "January 1 the laws changed. I'll be out tomorrow."
"I'm here to advocate for my son and for any other victims that are subject to the injustices of these new laws," Flores said.
Flores-Maldonado's mother is asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo to repeal the bail reform law, adding it should have been done before her son was killed.
Meanwhile, in court Thursday a Suffolk judge ordered Randolph held without bail. He's due back in court Feb. 25.
