In a courtroom in Queens, New York, Jessica Beauvais received a 27-year prison sentence for the fatal hit-and-run of Highway Patrol Officer Anastasios Tsakos, who died while directing traffic around another crash scene on the Long Island Expressway.
In the incident that occurred in April 2021, Officer Tsakos was attending to traffic control near the Francis Lewis Boulevard exit following an unrelated fatal collision when Jessica Beauvais, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, struck him with her vehicle, resulting in his immediate death.
The tragic event spurred an immense outpouring of grief from the local community and fellow officers, drawing attention to the perils law enforcement officials frequently confront while performing their duties on the road.
Initially, Beauvais had the opportunity to plead guilty for a reduced sentence of 16 years as offered by the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. However, she opted for a trial that led to a much harsher sentence. Convicted in October of the previous year, Beauvais’ decision to go to trial was acknowledged by her lawyer, who urged for leniency in the sentencing phase.
When addressing the court, an emotional Beauvais murmured apologies. Judge Michael Aloise, unmoved by the remorse displayed, imposed the maximum allowable sentence of 20 years for second-degree manslaughter, adding an additional seven years for fleeing the scene of the accident. The judge expressed a sentiment of
Source: Queens Chronicle
