Rule
GOSHEN – A Pine Bush man was sentenced in Orange County Court on Thursday to 2-1/3 to seven years in state prison in connection with the June 13, 2016 killing of Luis DeJesus, 31, of New Windsor.
Michael Rule, 33, had pled guilty before County Court Judge Craig Stephen
Brown to vehicular manslaughter and on Thursday, the judge imposed the
maximum sentence authorized under the law.
District Attorney David Hoovler said Rule was “deserving” of receiving the maximum sentence.
“The facts of the case are terrible and I don’t think that seven years is truly enough in this manner but that is what the law is in our state and that is what we have to live with, that’s what we recommended and I am thankful that the judge imposed it,” Hoovler said.
Between 6:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on June 13, Rule was driving on Route 300 in the Town of New Windsor. DeJesus was walking down the road and Rule struck him from behind, causing fatal injuries.
Rule left the scene. Another person in the area attempted to aid the victim and stayed with him until the police and first responders arrived.
A few miles away in the Town of Newburgh, a couple, who had not seen the collision, saw Rule driving his car with extensive front end damage. Suspecting he had been involved in a collision, they followed Rule and called the police. They continued to follow Rule, reporting to police, even after Rule got into the passenger seat of a car driven by another man, who had nothing to do with the incident.
Police arrived within minutes and arrested Rule. A blood test done on Rule revealed that his blood-alcohol level was .15 percent. DNA evidence also linked Rule’s car to the death of DeJesus.
Hoovler expressed gratitude for the citizens who tried to aid the victim, and who provided critical information to police.
