HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR_2023-05-15LawaiManSentencedforFatal2020ChristmasEveCrashv2.pdf
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
County of Kaua‘i, State of Hawai‘i
3990 Ka‘ana Street, Suite 210, Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 96766
808-241-1888 ~ FAX 808-241-1758
Victim/Witness Program 808-241-1898 or 800-668-5734
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Rebecca V. Like
Prosecuting Attorney
Keola Siu
First Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 15, 2023
County of Kaua‘i
Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
Rebecca Like, Prosecuting Attorney
(808) 241-1888
Lāwa‘i Man Sentenced for Fatal 2020 Christmas Eve Crash
Today, Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like announced that a Lāwa‘i man, 33
year-old Sandon Igne, was sentenced an open ten year term of incarceration for
causing the deaths of Eugenia Villanueva and Delfin Geronimo following a
crash on Christmas Eve in 2020. He was also sentenced to a lifetime driver’s
license revocation. Multiple family members of the crash victims spoke at the
sentencing hearing.
At approximately 4 p.m. on December 24, 2020, after consuming multiple
alcoholic beverages at Rob’s Good Times Grill in Līhu‘e, Igne headed westbound
on Kaumuali‘i Highway. Near Knudsen Gap, he drove off the right side of the
roadway, then veered back across the roadway, crossing the westbound lane
and the double solid yellow line before crashing into a vehicle travelling
eastbound. His driving resulted in the death of Eugenia Villanueva and Delfin
Geronimo and caused substantial bodily injury to two other occupants of the
vehicle. More than two hours after the crash, Igne’s blood alcohol content was
0.133 gms/100 cc of whole blood.
On November 29, 2022, Igne entered a No Contest plea to two counts of
Negligent Homicide in the First Degree, two counts of Negligent Injury in the
Second Degree and Inattention to Driving. First Circuit Judge Catherine
Remegio presided over the case.
Negligent Homicide in the First Degree carries a maximum sentence of ten
years in prison with a maximum $25,000 fine. The ten year sentence handed to
Igne is to run concurrently.
This investigation was led by former Kaua‘i Police Department Officer Isaiah
Sarsona and current KPD Officer Shawn Hanna. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
H. Ramsey Ross represented the State of Hawai‘i.
Deputy Prosecutor Ross stated in his sentencing argument, “A lot of people call
these types of incidents ‘accidents.’ We go to great length to not call them
accidents, because incidents like this involve people making choices,” he said.
“Sandon Igne’s conduct that day was wholly unacceptable and posed a
significant danger to other motorists and the Kaua‘i community. The
community, especially the victims involved, and their families are forever
damaged as a result of Sandon Igne’s reprehensible conduct that day.”
Prosecutor Like stated, “This case is one of the most tragic cases I have seen in
my career. The loss of and injury to multiple family members on Christmas Eve
is horrific. We cannot bring back the lives of Eugenia Villanueva and Delfin
Geronimo, but we hope that this sentencing allows the family to start to heal.”