21-year-old Anthony Simini charged with vehicular manslaughter in death of Christian Ascolese

The North Rockland community was met with tragedy on April 9 of this year, when 21-year-old Stony Pointer Christian Ascolese perished in a car accident on Gate Hill Rd. The driver of the car, his friend Anthony C. Simini of West Haverstraw, is now facing second degree vehicular manslaughter (felony), DWAI drugs and reckless driving (misdemeanors) charges for the  accident.

Stony Point PD informed the public today that lab reports found marihuana in Simini’s bloodstream at the time of the accident. Police have yet to indicate how much THC was present in Simini’s blood. Chief Brian Moore of SPPD indicated the information would be released by the DA’s Office at a later date.

Moore said, “It is fair to say there was enough present to support the DWAI drugs and manslaughter charges.”

SPPD also charged Simini with speeding, a traffic violation.

Simini was arraigned in Stony Point Justice Court before Judge William Franks and released on $2,500 bail. He is scheduled to be back in court on Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 1:30 p.m.

Simini turned 21 years old on May 25.

* – Marihuana, with an ‘h,’ is the legal spelling of the word within the New York State penal system