Crime & Safety
Plea Deal in Fatal Crash a "Black Eye" on Justice System, say Patch Readers
West Islip residents very angry about sentencing in John Thomas Gaffney case.
A plea deal between the Suffolk District Attorney and a Ronkonkoma man responsible for killing a West Islip kindergartner nearly two years ago in a car crash is being slammed by Patch readers for falling short and not delivering the right punishment.
Instead of a possible 25 years in prison, if convicted on several felonies, Steven Kinalis was sentenced Monday to 5 and a half years to 16 and a half years in prison for the death of John Anthony Gaffney in a car accident on Dec. 10, 2011.
Police say Steven Kinalis was high on oxycodone and other drugs when he crashed his car into a pickup truck carrying John Thomas Gaffney on Sunrise Highway in Mastic. The kindergartner and his family were headed to buy a Christmas tree at the time of the crash.
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When news broke, Patch readers responded quick.
“That’s it?” wrote one reader.
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“This piece of garbage should NEVER have been offered a plea deal in the first place!!! He made a conscious decision to do drugs THAN get behind the wheel of a car! What a horrific tragedy! So very sad! My heart goes out to the boys family. You all are in my prayers!,” wrote another resident.
Several stated that justice was not served by the plea deal.
“No way is that enough for an innocent little boys life. Hopefully he gets his in jail. RIP little John,” stated a reader.
Some readers believe Kinalis should have even gotten more than the potential highest sentencing.
“You've gotta be kidding me. He deserves to be in jail the rest of his life,” wrote a reader.
Another questioned the validity of the current justice system, with one reader stating it casts a black eye on the system.
“A plea deal?? Are you freaking kidding me??? That's disgusting. This jackass does drugs, gets behind the wheel of a car at a high rate of speed and takes an innocent life. What the **** is wrong with our justice system???? My heart certainly goes out to that poor family. I hope he will get his in jail. The inmates don't take lightly to situations involving innocent children.Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
