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Unlicensed Driver Pleads Guilty to All Counts for Leaving the Scene After Fatally Injuring Child Near Park in Sloan

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 38-year-old Kevin J. Mendola of Buffalo pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller to all counts in the indictment against him. The defendant pleaded guilty, as charged, to the following offenses on Friday, March 17, 2023:

  • One count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, Personal Injury Resulting in Death (Class “D” felony)
  • One count of Criminally Negligent Homicide (Class “E” felony)
  • One count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor

On Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the defendant was operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license on Lovejoy Street near Griffith Park in the Village of Sloan. The defendant placed his vehicle in reverse and ran over a child and his bicycle. The child was standing with his bicycle at the time of the incident. The defendant then drove his vehicle forward and over the child a second time. The defendant exited his vehicle, saw the injured child, and then drove away from the scene without reporting the incident.  The defendant was located nearby a short time later by police.

The victim, 10-year-old Michael “Mikey” Conklin of Sloan, was taken by ambulance to Oishei Children’s Hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Mendola faces a maximum of 11 years in prison when he is sentenced as a second felony offender on Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. He was held without bail pending sentence.

DA Flynn commends the Cheektowaga Police Department Traffic Unit for their work in this investigation.  

The case was prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott and Assistant District Attorney Christine O. Murray of the Vehicular Crimes Unit.

 

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