Bail Reduced for Driver Involved in Hampton Bays Fatal Accident

Five days after a newspaper delivery woman was killed in Hampton Bays, the man accused of driving drunk and causing the accident remains behind bars on only a misdemeanor drunken driving charge.

Southampton Town Justice Barbara Wilson lowered his bail from $250,000 cash, which was set at his arraignment on Monday, to $175,000 cash or $250,000 bond after Perez's attorney Lane Bubka made an application for bail reduction.

"It's still ridiculous high considering the only charge he is facing — right now — is misdemeanor DWI," Bubka said on Friday afternoon.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office informed him they are planning to take their case before a grand jury for an indictment on more serious charges by Wednesday, but Bubka said that he has yet to be served with a grand jury notice. Bubka declined to speculate what the more serious charges could be.

Had Perez been charged with a felony, the DA's office would have only had until Friday, Jan. 10, to indict him, or they would have had to release him without bail. However, defendants charged with misdemeanors can be held on bail.

In the meantime, Perez's parents are doing "everything they can to post the bail," Bubka said. "But, it's an extreme hardship."

Perez, 30, was behind the wheel of a 2001 Ford pickup truck, heading west on Montauk Highway, when he struck Middle Island resident Donna Sartori in the westbound shoulder on Sunday at 4:24 a.m., police said. The accident occurred just west of Ponquogue Avenue.

His truck hit a parked car, then Sartori, and then her parked vehicle. She was standing near her car when she was struck, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her family is now on a desperate search for her dog, Bam Bam, which ran from the scene. There is a $1,000 reward for the person who returns the dog.

Perez, a single father enrolled in college, lived with his parents and his 10-year-old son in Flanders, Bubka said. He was previously reported to be from Aquebogue, though it turns out that was an old address. Bubka said Perez's parents are caring for his 10-year-old son.

According to jail records, Perez is being held at Rikers Island, instead of at the Suffolk County jail in Riverside because of a previous relationship to someone who works at the jail. Bubka said he understands that Perez's former fiancée's father works there as a Corrections Officer, but that could not be immediately confirmed.

Bubka said he was frustrated because his client was not brought to court on Friday for the proceeding. Not having easy access to his client makes defending him more difficult, Bubka said, adding that he has calls into the Suffolk County Sheriff's office to see if there is anyway to house him closer.

Perez's next court date is scheduled for Thursday in Southampton Town Justice Court. If he is not indicted by then, Bubka said he will make another application for lower bail.