New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Apr. 1 the indictment and arraignment of former New York City Police Department Officer Kevin Richmond, 44, of Elmsford, Westchester County, on charges including Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree and two counts of misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated. The indictment alleges that Richmond drove his personal vehicle while intoxicated or with a blood alcohol content of at least 0.08% and caused the death of Nidia Nieves on July 27, 2023.
The case underscores the role of the Attorney General’s Office in investigating incidents where law enforcement officers may have caused a death, regardless of whether they were on duty or off duty at the time. The Office of Special Investigation is responsible for assessing such incidents to determine if a full investigation is warranted under New York Executive Law Section 70-b.
Richmond was arraigned by Judge Craig Brown at Orange County Court, who continued bail at a $40,000 bond with a $20,000 cash alternative. Richmond is scheduled to appear again in court on May 1. If convicted on the top count, he faces a maximum sentence ranging from two and one third to seven years in prison.
According to allegations detailed by authorities, shortly after midnight on July 27 last year, Richmond allegedly collided with a motorcycle driven by Nieves while she was traveling northbound on I-87 in Cornwall. He was reportedly intoxicated during the incident. Nieves suffered traumatic injuries after being thrown from her motorcycle and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Richmond was first arrested and arraigned before Judge Paul Trachte at Newburgh City Court in June last year before posting cash bail.
The New York Attorney General operates as a public law enforcement and legal advocacy agency for New York according to its official website. The office promotes social justice through civil rights enforcement and consumer advocacy according to its official website, protects residents’ rights including public safety and environmental preservation according to its official website, provides services such as fraud investigations and tenant dispute mediation according to its official website, works through regional offices statewide according to its official website, and is headed by Letitia James according to its official website.
Criminal charges are accusations only; Richmond is presumed innocent unless found guilty at trial or by plea.
