A Buffalo State College graduate was killed after being hit by an alleged drunk driver downstate over the weekend, and that driver is free without bail.
According to Suffolk County prosecutors, 27-year-old Jonathan Maldonado died after he was struck by 40-year-old Jordan Randolph, of Bellport, NY.
Maldonado graduated from Buffalo State College in May of 2019 with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology.
The crash happened Sunday morning on Long Island. Court records said Randolph rear-ended Maldonado around 4 A.M.
Randolph was released after his felony DWI arraignment on Monday. New York's new bail reforms prevent DWI defendants from paying cash bail to get released.
Prosecutors said Randolph was previously convicted of misdemeanor DWI in 2011, and felony DWI in 2016 and 2018. His criminal doesn't end there. He's also been convicted of the following:
Third-degree attempted robbery in 1997, a felony
Endangering the welfare of a child in 1998, a misdemeanor
Second-degree assault in 1998, a felony
Second-degree assault in 1998, a felony
Third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance in 2002, a felony
DWI in 2011, a misdemeanor
Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in 2013, a misdemeanor
DWI in 2016, an E felony
Third-degree possession of a forged instrument in 2016, a misdemeanor
Criminal contempt in 2017, a misdemeanor
Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in 2017, a misdemeanor
DWI in 2018, a D felony
According to court records, Randolph had been arrested on Jan. 1 and charged with interfering with a ignition interlock device, which requires motorists to pass breath-alcohol testing before their car can start.
Prosecutors said Randolph is due back in court on January 23.
Buffalo State College released the following statement:
"We are so very sorry to learn of Jonathan’s tragic passing. He was a fixture in our department in recent years, most recently serving as president of the student biology club during the 2018-19 academic year. Jonathan always had a pleasant and professional demeanor in class and in our labs—he had a bright future. Our thoughts go out to Jonathan’s family during this difficult time," said Daniel Potts, Chair of the Biology Department at Buffalo State.
