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April 23, 2008

Parole considers drag-racer's release

The parole board is considering the case of a man who was sentenced –– as a teenager, four years ago –– to spend 12 years in jail after a drag-racing crash ended in the death of two of his passengers.

Brendan Lombardi is now 23 years old, and has the chance to be released from jail.

Lombardi, formerly of Barrington, pleaded no contest to two counts of driving under the influence, death resulting; one count of DUI, serious injury resulting; two counts of reckless driving, death resulting; and one count of conspiracy to commit reckless driving.

In April of 2003, Lombardi and Michael C. Cabral were drag racing, prosecutors said, when Lombardi crashed into a tree. Steven J. Botelho, 19, and Justin M. Nunes, 17, were killed and David Arruda, 17, was critically injured. Cabral was also charged with reckless driving.

As part of his sentence, Lombardi will be on probation for 10 years after he is released from the Adult Correctional Institutions. He will also have to serve 200 hours of community service and attend alcohol and substance-abuse counseling.

Lombardi has spoken to teenagers in Barrington since his arrest about the dangers of driving under the influence. When he was arrested, the police say he had cocaine and alcohol in his system.

-- projo.com staff writer, with Journal archive reports

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 10:00 AM | Permalink

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