Silvio Tenesaca Sentenced for Vehicular Manslaughter and
Driving While Intoxicated
CARMEL, NEW YORK – November 14, 2019 Putnam County District Attorney Robert V. Tendy announced today that on November 6, 2019, County Court Judge James Rooney sentenced Silvio Tenesaca of Kent, New York to an aggregate sentence of 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison for causing the death of George Rosalino. Tenesaca had pleaded guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Driving While Intoxicated on August 2, 2019.
On November 27, 2018, Tenesaca was driving on Route 52 in the town of Kent when he rear-ended George Rosalino, who was riding a bicycle. The force of the impact killed Rosalino instantly. Tenesaca did not stop and continued to drive home. After he arrived home, Tenesaca switched to a different car and returned to the scene, where he observed Mr. Rosalino and then drove to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Tenesaca was observed to be under the influence of alcohol and a breath test demonstrated that he had a .17 blood alcohol level.
Tenesaca was sentenced to concurrent terms of 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison for Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree and 364 days in jail for Driving While Intoxicated, the maximum sentence available for each charge. In addition, he forfeited the vehicle he used in the crime.
“Driving while intoxicated is not a victimless crime,” said District Attorney Robert V. Tendy. “It can, and often does, produce horrible and tragic results. George Rosalino was a beloved son and brother. He was a Navy veteran and a cancer survivor. The defendant chose to excessively drink and then operate a motor vehicle that night and this was the consequence. My sincerest condolences go out to the Rosalino family.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Larry Glasser. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Kent Police Department.
