STATEN ISLAND — The off-duty NYPD officer who fatally struck a grandfather while driving drunk in 2013 was convicted Friday of criminally negligent homicide, officials said.
Joseph McClean, 32, was found guilty in the death of William Hemphill, 51, after a five-week jury trial, District Attorney Michael McMahon said.
"We praise the jury for their diligence on this difficult case and we’re satisfied that justice has been served for Mr. Hemphill," McMahon said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with his family during this difficult time."
On Oct. 4, 2013, Hemphill had just bought his lunch and was crossing Richmond Terrace and Simonson Avenue to start work at the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company when McClean slammed into him with his 2010 Ford Escape, police and witnesses said.
McClean, who was drunk at the time, drove off without stopping, but returned to the scene about 25 minutes later and was arrested, prosecutors said.
Hemphill, who lived in Maryland, was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said.
Aside from criminally negligent homicide, McClean was also convicted of leaving the scene of an accident without reporting and driving while ability impaired by alcohol, McMahon said.
He faces a maximum of seven years in jails for leaving the scene and four years for the criminally negligent homicide charge when he's sentenced on Dec. 12, prosecutors said.
McClean was previously placed on modified duty and resigned from the NYPD on Friday, police said.
