The scene of the May 28 crash. (Steve Silverman)
The sneaky punk who conned his drunk and coked-up girlfriend into taking the DWI rap for crashing through, and trashing, a Long Island home in his mom’s Mercedes convertible, was finally charged today with the May 28 crash and ordered held without bail.
Suffolk DA Tom Spota said Dan Sajewski, 23, tricked Sophia Anderson, 21, into telling cops that she was behind the wheel when he crashed through the Huntington home of a 96-year-old woman – taking a 30-foot tree with him from the front to the back yard.
Spota said the incredible demolition derby was the end result of a night of boozing and cocaine snorting at the $1.7 million mansion of Sajewski’s parents in exclusive Lloyd Harbor – when Sajewski and Anderson took a high speed joyride for more beer.
Sajewski, a college student majoring in Criminal Justice at Manhattan’s John Jay College, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in a Riverhead courtroom on an 11-count indictment charging him with DWI, conspiracy, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and other charges.
Suffolk Judge Martin Efman ordered him held without bail because he violated his probation on a prior drug selling charge. He faces a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years behind bars if convicted.
“We know what really happened that day,’’ said Spota at a press conference after the court session. He said the couple, along with three pals, were doing shots of Jack Daniels and snorting coke at Sajewski’s doctor dad’s home until 4 a.m.
The crash occurred during a trip for more Heineken beer, while Sajewski was driving, said Spota. He said Anderson was passed out in the passenger seat and “told us she wakes up as the incident is occurring and they were driving through the house.’’
Spota said Anderson “was in love with him’’ and agreed to take the rap, after he promised to pay her bail and legal bills – and take her on a vacation. He broke his word and she revealed it was all a lie.
The DA said that when an x-ray technician at the hospital told her she could not have been the driver because of her injuries, Anderson told him “it’s a little too late for that.’’
Anderson’s lawyer John LoTurco said he and his client “are very satisfied that he was remanded without bail. He’s unscrupulous. He’s a true criminal and he belongs in jail.’’
On Thursday, Anderson will be charged with obstructing justice for lying but the DWI charges against her will be dropped.