Sentencing For Ex-Cop Found Guilty For Fatal Crash Postponed

WEST ISLIP, NY - A former police officer who pleaded guilty to causing a wrong-way fatal crash on Sunrise Highway began his prison term this week despite not being sentenced during his most recent court appearance.

In Sept. 2016, Robert Scheuerer, 26, of Farmingdale was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, second degree manslaughter, aggravated DWI and second degree reckless endangerment.

According to police, he was driving his 2000 Nissan Pathfinder eastbound in the westbound lanes on Sunrise Highway when the SUV slammed into a 2016 Ford van just east of Route 231 in West Islip.

The van caught fire, and 37-year-old Brian J. Fusaro, of Bay Shore, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Scheuerer had a blood alcohol content of .17, more than twice the legal limit, over an hour and 14 minutes after the crash, the DA said. There were reports that he drank 10 pints of beer and a margarita at a bar before the crash.

Scheuerer, who was off duty at the time, was seriously injured in the crash. He was dismissed by the department in January after working as a Suffolk County police officer for a year.

Last month, in exchange for his guilty plea, State Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho promised Scheuerer a prison term of three to nine years. He was directed to surrender on January 18 to begin his sentence.

However, in court on Thursday Camacho postponed the sentence without giving a reason, Newsday reports.

During the short proceeding, which as attended by Fusaro’s family, Scheuerer's attorney apologized to the family on his behalf.

“No one here can fully understand what it’s like to be in your shoes, but to the extent that we’re able to, both myself and the Scheuerer family are so sorry for your loss,” William Petrillo said according to Newsday.

Scheuerer is now scheduled to be sentenced on March 13.

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