Robert C. Schuster, a criminal defense attorney, pled guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide on Tuesday after a collision he caused in December 2019 while intoxicated which resulted in the death of a Mount Kisco man, Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced.
Schuster, of Bedford, pled guilty on August 10 to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide. He faces a sentence ranging from a minimum of one to three years to a maximum of 8 1/3 to 25 years in state prison.
After leaving a holiday party on December 16, 2019, Schuster was driving eastbound on Route 172 near Darlington Road in Bedford when his car crossed over the double yellow line into oncoming traffic and crashed into the car driven by Mount Kisco resident Diego Trejo. Schuster had a blood alcohol content above the legal limit at the time of the collision.
Trejo, 22, died at the scene. Schuster was injured in the crash and transported to a nearby hospital.
“Robert Schuster’s decision to drive his car while drunk displayed a blatant disregard for human life and safety that ultimately led to the tragic death of an innocent young man,” DA Rocah said. “Drunk drivers put their own lives and those of everyone in our community at risk, and our Office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases to help ensure the safety of our streets.”
The Bedford Police Department and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety investigated the incident.
The case is before Judge Barry Warhit in Westchester County Court and is being prosecuted by Vehicular Crimes Bureau Chief Nadine Nagler and Assistant District Attorney Nicholas DiCostanzo. Schuster is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30.
