By Courtney Dentch
Robert Pearson, 24, of 116-12 134th St. was found guilty in State Supreme Court in Kew Gardens of driving a Lexus sedan that was reported stolen in Westchester, fleeing from police officers at speeds of over 100 miles per hour and colliding with the car driven by 25-year-old Kevin Fisher, the district attorney said.
“The defendant drove a stolen car at high speed, ran a red light, struck another vehicle head-on and fatally injured the driver,” Brown said in a statement. “The defendant's conduct warrants imposition of a substantial jail term.”
A jury of six men and six women deliberated for four hours over two days before returning the guilty verdict on the manslaughter charge. Justice Mark Spires, who presided over the weeklong trial, scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 10.
Pearson faces up to 15 years in prison, Brown said.
He was driving on Linden Boulevard on Oct. 22, 2002 in a 1991 green Lexus sedan that had been reported stolen from Haverstraw, N.Y. by its owner the month before, Brown said. Police officers ordered Pearson to pull over, but he refused and fled instead, the district attorney said.
Pearson sped off at over 100 miles per hour on Linden Boulevard heading toward Jamaica, Brown said. He ran stop signs and red lights and crossed double yellow lines in his desperate attempt to escape the officers, the district attorney said.
Pearson ran a red light at the corner of 173rd Street and Linden Boulevard and smashed into the Chevy Lumina driven by Fisher, a Jamaica barber on his way home from work, Brown said.
Fisher was thrown from the car and was killed.
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at news@timesledger.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
