Dwayne Clark sentenced to jail

By Jeanne Sager
MONTICELLO — A sentence of four to eight years in prison was handed down in county court this week for a drunk driver who killed a Callicoon teenager.
Seventeen-year-old George Quinn was walking home on the night of June 6, following state law by facing oncoming traffic as he made his way along the shoulder of Route 97.
Quinn was in front of his house when he was struck by a car operated by Dwayne Clark, 46, of Jeffersonville, killing him instantly.
With blood tests showing his blood alcohol content was above the legal limit, Clark pled guilty late last year to vehicular manslaughter in the first degree and felony driving while intoxicated.
This week he received a sentence of four to eight years on the manslaughter conviction and one and one-third to four years on the latter charge, to run concurrently.
He was sentenced by Sullivan Court Judge Frank LaBuda.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Jim Farrell pointed to the tragic circumstances of the situation in his sentencing request.
“It is an extremely sad day that a life so young, vibrant and full of potential can be taken in an instant because of the criminal choice of an intoxicated driver,” Farrell said. “Clark’s actions in getting behind the wheel of a 4,000-pound missile while intoxicated claimed an innocent life. The defendant knew the potential for death when he made that choice.
“This is a tragedy that could absolutely have been avoided by Clark choosing not to drink and drive,” he continued. “George Quinn’s family will now suffer for the rest of their lives because of Clark’s criminal act. The sentence handed down today shows that those people who disregard the law, drive while intoxicated and hurt or take the lives of innocent victims will be held responsible, accountable and will be sent to prison for their criminal acts.”