Skip to main content

NYC teen pleads guilty in crash that killed 4 pals

By WTOP Staff

FRANK ELTMAN
Associated Press

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A teenager who admitted smoking marijuana and speeding before crashing into a tree on a Long Island highway in 2012, killing four of his friends and splitting his new car in half, could spend as little as four years in prison following a plea deal reached Tuesday.

Joseph Beer was convicted in June of manslaughter and other charges, but a Nassau County jury deadlocked on the top count of aggravated vehicular homicide. Prosecutors were considering whether to retry Beer on the deadlocked charge but settled the case with Beer’s guilty plea to the top count.

Beer, now 19 and from New York, also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana.

“He knew he was facing another trial with the possibility of a higher sentence,” Assistant District Attorney Maureen McCormick told reporters after the proceeding. “He made a decision for himself. We’re just grateful because the families really didn’t want to undergo another trial.”

Under sentencing guidelines, Beer could have received up to 25 years on the aggravated vehicular homicide conviction, but County Court Judge David Sullivan promised the defendant he would receive no more than five to 15 years when he is sentenced Aug. 26.

Defense attorney Todd Greenberg indicated that sentence could be reduced further if the judge grants Beer youthful offender status because he was 17 at the time of the October 2012 crash. Greenberg noted there is a push in Albany to change the age for youthful offender status from 16 to 18.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice opposes granting Beer youthful offender status, spokesman Shams Tarek said Tuesday. Rice supports changing the age to 18, but only for nonviolent offenders, Tarek said.

A decision on the youthful offender application will be made at sentencing, Greenberg said.

Prosecutors said Beer was driving faster than 100 mph on the Southern State Parkway when he smashed into the tree. The crash happened on a stretch of highway dubbed Dead Man’s Curve because of a treacherous hill that leads to a sharp curve in the highway.

The spectacular crash cut the high-performance Subaru in half, killing the four boys instantly. Beer was the lone survivor and had only minor injuries.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote