Boat driver in deadly Hudson River crash gets 2 years

NEW CITY (WABC) -- The man who was boating drunk on the Hudson River when he crashed, killing two people, was sentenced in Rockland County to two years in prison Tuesday.

Jojo John, 36, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the crash that killed Lindsey Stewart just days before her wedding.

The best man in her wedding, Mark Lennon, was also killed. The groom-to-be, Brian Bond, was injured, as was John.

Investigators say John's blood-alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit at the time. They quoted him as telling first responders, "I've been drinking all day," or words to that effect.

He crashed the boat into a construction barge near the Tappan Zee Bridge last summer.

In court, John offered an emotional and tearful apology to the victim's families, telling them he'd give up his own life if it could bring them back.

"I am heartbroken," he said. "July 26 remains the saddest day of my life. Life hasn't been the same since and will never be the same again...I'm so sorry, I loved them dearly, and I want you to know that," he said.

The families issued a statement, read by Raymond Lennon, Mark's brother, saying they do not hold Jojo John solely responsible.

"We are not here before you this morning to speak ill of Jojo John, nor are we here to speak of his actions leading up to the devastating boat ride," he said. "He too is a victim of both his own actions and the negligent inactions of the other responsible party, which has managed to escape unnamed and unscathed in these criminal proceedings.

Even though the criminal case has ended, the saga may persist in civil courtrooms for years.

John's lawyer, David Narain, insisted that the crash was caused not by intoxication but by a lack of lighting on the barge. The Coast Guard and the state Thruway Authority, which is building the bridge, said the barge was properly lighted.

Stewart's and Lennon's families have sued several companies involved in the construction, citing poor lighting. But they also sued John, as co-owner of the boat, and said he was careless and negligent. Others who were in the boat also have sued.

John's civil lawyer, James Mercante, said Monday that the end of the criminal case means civil lawyers will get access to the boat and other evidence. A conference in the lawsuits, which have been consolidated in admiralty court, is scheduled for Oct. 27.

Here is the full text of the statement read by Raymond Lennon:

"My name is Raymond Lennon and I am the only brother of the deceased Mark Lennon. I am joined by my parents, wife and the Stewart Family. Trying to summarize how our families feel after a year of incomprehensible heartache is an immensely difficult task. Today is only the 2nd time I have spoken of my brother publicly since giving his eulogy, and to be honest, this has proved to be much more difficult. At 31, I never imagined that I would be on an altar speaking of my only sibling in his eulogy nor in a courthouse at the sentencing of the young man and friend allegedly 'solely' responsible for the tragic deaths of Mark and Lindsey on what was the last "normal" summer Friday evening we will never forget.

"Today is just another in a series of events which the world has coined 'Tragedy on the Hudson.' Today is tragic in the sense; the public STILL does not know all of the

circumstances that have led us here today- only the portions that the District Attorney' s office has selectively chosen for us all to know. Our families were assured that the facts and evidence would be made public at trial; a trial which never took place due to the plea offer presented to Jo Jo John by the District Attorney-the office which had repeatedly told us that the barge companies no doubt were also to blame.

"We are not here before you this morning to speak ill of Jojo John. Nor are we here to speak of his actions leading up to the devastating boat ride. While we do not condone or excuse his behavior, he must live with those actions for the remainder of his days. Regardless of where he resides for the next year or two, he is facing a life sentence of his own- unfortunately, we all are. He too is a victim of both his own actions and the negligent inactions of the other responsible party which has managed to escape unnamed and unscathed in these criminal proceedings.

"Both the criminal and media prosecutions of Jojo are deemed 'incomplete justice' (at best) by both the Lennon and Stewart families. To offer Mr. John such a lenient sentence was obviously a desperate attempt by the DA's office to get a conviction which not only insults our families as well as both Mark and Lindsey legacies If the tables had been turned, I rest assured in the fact that my brother would be kicking down the door to this courthouse at the injustice and persecution of holding Jo Jo single handedly responsible while excusing the behaviors of 'big business' and 'politics.'

"Ultimately it is the memories of Mark and Lindsey that keep us going day to day: their laughter and joy was contagious and their ability to live life to the fullest was

undeniable. To say that they are greatly missed does not properly size up the hole in our hearts.

"In closing, the outcome of today' s proceedings will have little effect on certain unalienable truths. Today's sentencing will not bring Mark or Lindsey back to us

but does put our families one step closer to ending this terrible nightmare we have yet to wake up from.

"Thank you."