Hamptons Man Convicted Of Felony DWI After Jury Trial: DA

EAST HAMPTON, NY — An East Hampton man was convicted of felony driving while intoxicated after a jury trial, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Simon Bolivar Cruceta, 62, was found guilty of felony DWI after driving while drunk with an open bottle of vodka in his car in East Hampton in 2025, Tierney said.

The evidence at trial established that on February 3, 2025, at about 12:35 p.m., an East Hampton Village police officer initiated a traffic stop of Cruceta’s Nissan Altima for excessive window tint, the DA said.

During the stop, the officer saw an open bottle of vodka at Cruceta’s feet and detected an odor of alcohol emanating from his breath, Tierney said.

Cruceta admitted to the officer that "he just took a sip of that," referencing the vodka bottle, the DA said.

Cruceta submitted to a chemical test of his breath, which revealed his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was .11, exceeding the legal limit of .08, the DA said.

On Monday, Cruceta was convicted of driving while intoxicated; per se, a Class E felony; and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle on a highway, a traffic infraction, after a jury trial heard before County Court Judge Bryan L. Browns, the DA said.

Cruceta had been previously convicted of misdemeanor DWI on April 26, 2023, the DA said.

Cruceta is due back in court for sentencing on May 19 and faces up to 1 ⅓ to 4 years in prison, Tierney said.

He is being represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.

"Drunk driving is not a victimless crime. It is a decision that puts every person on the road and sidewalks at serious risk of injury or death," said Tierney. "This defendant made that choice twice, and this conviction should send a message that my office takes these cases seriously to ensure our roads are safe."