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Guilty plea in fatal hit-and-run case

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A Baldwin man pleaded guilty on March 17 to charges related to a fatal hit-and-run accident in Port Washington last August that left 49-year-old Donald Mooney dead.

Cosmin Florea, 34, faces a prison sentence of up to seven years, according to Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. He pleaded guilty before Nassau County Court Judge Helene Gugerty to all of the charges he faced: second-degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of driving while intoxicated and driving while ability impaired by the combined use of alcohol and drugs.

Florea’s attorney, Michael DerGarabedian, said that since it was a non-violent offense, his client can be imprisoned for a maximum of two-thirds of seven years — roughly five years. But at minimum, Florea will serve two years and four months in jail.

“With Cosmin, it was never a matter of whether he was guilty or not,” DerGarabedian said. “His position from the inception was he wanted to take responsibility. When I was satisfied that Cosmin could accept responsibility and not expose himself to a lot more jail time, “that’s when we took the plea.”

On Aug. 15 at 11:57 p.m., Florea was driving a 2010 Ford Fusion when he struck Mooney, of Lynbrook, who was walking across Main Street in Port Washington, west of South Bayles Avenue, Singas said.

Florea left the scene, and was later stopped in Queens by New York City Police officer Wayne Kaifler, who noticed that the vehicle’s windshield was damaged. He was arrested by the Port Washington Police Department, with the assistance of Detective James DePierro of the Nassau County Police Department, and later admitted to having been under the influence of both alcohol and marijuana, according to Singas.

Mooney died from his injuries at North Shore University Hospital.

“Florea was drunk and high when he struck and killed Donald Mooney, who was just crossing the street to go back to work with cups of coffee for himself and a co-worker,” Singas said. “Florea thought only of himself after the crash. He fled the scene and made no effort to get help for Mr. Mooney, who lay dying in the street. I hope this conviction gives some small measure of comfort to Mr. Mooney’s grieving family and friends.”

“Nothing Cosmin can do right now is ever going to mitigate the tragedy that he inflicted on the victim’s family and his own family, and he realizes that,” DerGarabedian said. “He’s just anxious to begin the healing process on both sides.”

Florea is due back in court for sentencing on May 12.