Brennan sentenced to two to four years in state prison

— From the Albany County District Attorney's Office

Joseph  Brennan

GUILDERLAND – Joseph Brennan, an Albany man who was arrested for drunk driving in Guilderland in March, was sentenced, on Aug. 15 in Albany County Court, to two to four years in state prison, in addition to a concurrent prison term of one to three years, by Judge Anthony Ceresia.

Brennan, 23, violated Leandra’s Law, a law named after Leandra Rosado – who was killed at age 11 when the car she was in, driven by an intoxicated person, flipped – making it a felony to drive while under the influence with a minor in the car.

Just before 9 a.m. on March 16, 2013, a Guilderland Police officer attempted to stop Brennan, who was driving on Western Avenue; Brennan refused to pull over, and was trying to evade the police.

The Guilderland Police broke off the chase when Brennan reached Interstate 87, and, when Brennan got off the highway at exit 2, he struck another car, sending it crashing into the side of the Regal Cleaners building on Central Avenue.

Colonie officers responded to the accident, and found Brennan attempting to run from the scene, with his 1-year-old child in one arm, and his girlfriend’s 3-year-old in the other arm.

Brennan was charged with two counts of Leandra’s Law, as well as driving while ability impaired by drugs, leaving the scene of a personal-injury accident, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal possession of marijuana, and various vehicle and traffic violations.

On July 19, 2013, Brennan pleaded guilty to two felonies — first-degree reckless endangerment and aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle.

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