Riverhead man guilty in crash that killed father of 3

A Riverhead man who prosecutors said was high on cocaine and fleeing police when his sport utility vehicle struck and killed a Manorville salesman was convicted Friday of aggravated vehicular homicide and second-degree manslaughter.

John Licausi Jr., 50, faces a maximum sentence of 12 1/2 to 25 years in prison on the conviction stemming from the 2008 collision in which Scott Foster, 46, a married father of three sons, was killed. Licausi is to be sentenced July 13.

Jurors, who deliberated for two days in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, convicted Licausi of 12 of the 13 counts against him. He also was found guilty of driving while ability impaired in the May 8, 2008, crash in Farmingville, as well as unlawfully fleeing from police, reckless driving, speeding and multiple counts of running through stop signs and traffic signals.

The panel acquitted him of assaulting a police officer who was trying to arrest him.

Licausi showed no reaction as the verdict was read.

Foster's wife, Maureen, said she was pleased with the verdict.

"We just have to remember it was just a tragedy," she said outside court. "It helps to know he's not going to be able to do this to anybody else."

Jean Foster, Scott Foster's mother, said the verdict was bittersweet.

"Our life is changed forever, and it's not going to ever go away," she said.

Judge James Hudson revoked Licausi's bail. He has been held in the Suffolk County jail on $1 million bond.

Licausi's attorney, Mike Ahern of Sayville, said he would appeal the verdict. Licausi has written letters of apology to Foster's family as part of his therapy after the fatal crash, Ahern said.

"He may seem like a terrible person, but he really is remorseful," he said.

The jury forewoman, Patricia Pollock of Riverhead, said jurors considered the role of the police pursuit in the collision. But she said "circumstantial evidence" led the jury to conclude Licausi was responsible for Foster's death.

Prosecutors said Licausi was running from police, who wanted to question him in connection with the theft of lawn equipment from a landscaper, when he ran a red light and smashed into Foster's sedan at Horseblock Road and Old Medford Avenue.

At the time of the crash, Licausi's criminal record included eight felony convictions for burglary and five convictions for drug-related crimes. He was on parole for burglary and forgery.