Joseph Beer sentenced in 2012 Long Island wreck that killed 4 teenagers

MINEOLA, NY (WABC) -- The Queens teenager who smashed his car into a tree, killing four of his friends, was sentenced Tuesday to 5 to 15 years in prison.

Joseph Beer is 19 now, but was 17 in October 2012 when he wrecked his car on the Southern State Parkway. He pleaded guilty in July to aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, admitting he had smoked marijuana and was speeding.

Beer asked for youthful offender status, which could have meant four years in jail, but the judge ruled against it.

"I stand here to receive justice for the crimes I have committed. I, too, hate myself for what I've done," he told the judge on Tuesday.

Prosecutors said Beer has shown complete and utter lack of remorse.

But Beer's attorney, Todd Greenberg, said that isn't the case. "He's had remorse since day one. He loved these young men," said Greenberg.

A jury in June convicted Beer on manslaughter, reckless endangerment and reckless driving, but was deadlocked on an aggravated vehicular homicide charge. A month later, Beer pleaded guilty, saying he wanted to spare the families of the victims -- 17-year-old Neal Rajapa, 18-year-old Darian Ramnarine, 18-year-old Peter Kanhai and 18-year-old Christopher Kahn -- the ordeal of a second trial.

"Joseph Beer purposely smoked marijuana with the intent of driving and caused the deaths of the passengers who trusted him to get them home safely," District Attorney Kathleen Rice said in a statement. "This sentence should be a clear message to everyone that if you are old enough to drive, you must be prepared to face the consequences of violent criminal behavior behind the wheel."

All of Beer's passengers were thrown from the car and killed in the crash. Beer, who only possessed a learner's permit, suffered minor injuries. Two separate blood tests revealed the marijuana use.

"This tragedy people can learn from it there are other people out there who are thinking just like joseph was and you will get caught," said Bryant Barr, one of the victim's stepfather.

Sharon Rajapa, Neal Rajapa's mother, said her life has not been the same. "As the days go by I'm trying so hard to cope. I never know what a bullet feels like, but on October 8th, I knew when a bullet hit my heart," she said. "But I forgive Joseph because I have to."