By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-23 05:36:31 | Updated at 2024-11-23 08:50:58
3 hours ago
A prominent Florida property developer has surrendered himself to authorities as a result of his involvement in a 2022 boating accident that killed a 17-year-old girl and left another paralyzed.
George Pino, a well-known real estate broker in Doral, appeared in a Miami-Dade Court on Thursday for a hearing that saw him turn himself into authorities.
The 54-year-old, who is currently facing a felony vessel homicide charge for his involvement in the 2022 Biscayne boat crash, somberly walked into the courtroom hand-in-hand with his wife and daughter.
The horrific accident took place on Labor Day weekend two years ago when Pino accidentally struck a channel marker, causing the 29-foot Robalo boat to overturn, sending all 14 passengers overboard.
The fatal crash took the life of 17-year-old Luciana 'Lucy' Fernandez and left Katerina Puig, who was 18 at the time, with debilitating and permanent injuries that will preclude her from living an independent life.
The near 15-minute hearing saw a distressed and emotional Pino, as he stood silently behind his attorney, Howard Srebnick, while nearly 75 of his relatives and friends sat behind him in support.
At the close of the Thursday hearing the prominent property developer was taken into custody by corrections officers and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 12:50 pm, according to jail records.
As the distressed developer exited the courtroom, his attorney thanked Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge, Maria Tinkler Mendez, for her 'sensitivity' in expediting the surrender process.
George Pino, 54, a well-known real estate broker in Doral, appeared in a Miami-Dade Court on Thursday for a hearing that saw him turn himself into authorities
The 54-year-old, who is currently facing a felony vessel homicide charge for his involvement in the 2022 Biscayne boat crash , somberly walked into the courtroom hand-in-hand with his wife and daughter
The fatal crash took the life of 17-year-old Luciana 'Lucy' Fernandez (pictured) and left Katerina Puig, who was 18 at the time, with debilitating and permanent injuries that will preclude her from living an independent life
Last year, Pino was charged with three misdemeanors: one count of second-degree careless operation of a vessel and two counts of careless operation of a vessel causing serious bodily injury.
However, those charges were dropped on October 31 in favor of the felony charge, which was brought about after additional witnesses came forward, strengthening the case.
If convicted, Pino faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following his emotional surrender, Pino's niece, Sofia Castellanos, read a tear-jerking statement from the family.
'From that moment, we have been racked by despair and grief and living a nightmare we could never have imagined. Worse than this though, is knowing that our anguish does not compare to the pain and suffering experienced by the impacted families; something we would not have wished on anyone, let alone our closest friends and family,' Castellanos read.
'If we could give up our lives to bring Lucy back or change what happened that day, we would do so in an instant. Sadly, we cannot. We pray every day for the Fernandez and Puig families and have committed our life savings and taken on substantial debt to help support them.
'As my father now confronts the serious criminal charges which have been filed, we can only hope that the State Attorney, and the community we love so much, will seek to understand all the facts surrounding this tragic accident,' she closed.
If convicted, Pino faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Pictured: Pino's wife, Cecilia Pino, embraces her husband before corrections officers took him in for processing
Following his emotional surrender, Pino's niece, Sofia Castellanos (pictured), read a tear-jerking statement from the family
Pino allegedly said another boat came by creating a big wake and when he turned to check and make sure all of the girls were okay, he hit the marker, causing the boat to overturn, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said
The devastating crash took place on September 4, 2022, when Pino and his wife, Cecilia Pino, were hosting several teen girls for their daughter's 18th birthday party.
All of the girls on the boat were lifelong friends of Carolina Pino and students at Carrolton School of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that Pino was piloting the 29-foot vessel back to the dock when he hit a channel marker, while speeding at around 50 miles per hour, near Boca Chita Key.
Pino allegedly said another boat came by creating a big wake and when he turned to check and make sure all of the girls were okay, he hit the marker, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.
The boat crash knocked everyone out of the boat and tore a large hole in the side of the vessel, injuring 11 of the passengers.
Six of them were taken to the hospital, where Fernandez would later die.
Pino was never administered a sobriety test, yet when the boat was pulled from the water the day after the crash, 61 empty alcohol bottles - including an empty bottle of champagne - were found on it, according to the Miami Herald.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee - who conducted an 'extensive marine investigation' following the accident - maintained that it didn't have probable cause to perform the test.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that Pino was piloting the 29-foot vessel back to the dock when he hit a channel marker, while speeding at around 50 miles per hour, near Boca Chita Key. Pictured: Severe damage to the boat caused by the fatal crash
The boat crash knocked everyone out of the boat and tore a large hole in the side of the vessel, injuring 11 of the passengers. Six of them were taken to the hospital, where Fernandez would later die
'I am dismayed by the State's surprise decision to file this new charge more than two years later,' Srebnick (pictured) told CBS News Miami
Pino told investigators that he had 'two beers' and didn't seem impaired at the scene.
'I am dismayed by the State's surprise decision to file this new charge more than two years later,' Srebnick told CBS News Miami.
'Officers on the scene of the crash determined that Pino was not intoxicated; Pino did not exceed any posted speed limit, Pino had the required number of Coast Guard-approved life preservers on board the vessel, and despite sustaining a head injury himself [requiring fifteen stitches], Pino made heroic efforts to rescue the injured passengers, including diving under the capsized boat,' he continued.
'This was an accident, not a crime, much less a felony.'
The lawsuit alleging the involvement of alcohol during the celebratory outing surfaced in March of last year when the family of the now disabled teen filed it.
The claim also alleges that the 54-year-old driver had been drinking before the crash and allowed the underaged teens to consume alcoholic beverages while out on the boat.
Pino is scheduled to reappear in court in January.
