Jury delivers verdict, Farr faces up to four years in jail

After days of deliberations, a jury declared James Farr not guilty on seven of 11 charges on Friday at the Nassau County Courthouse following an emotional four-week trial.

The jury did find Farr guilty on four charges: two counts of criminally negligent homicide and two counts of DWI. Farr now faces a possible sentence of 1 1/3 to four years in prison.

If he were convicted of all 11 charges, he would have faced a sentence of five to 15 years. Farr, an ex-Marine from Garden City, was on trial for striking and killing Joseph and Thomas Occhiogrosso, two East Meadow brothers, as they crossed Hempstead Turnpike on Aug. 23, 2009.

Several family members and friends cried as they exited the courtroom following the verdict.

 “There are never any winners in a case like this,” said Assistant District Attorney Matthew Lampert. “This made it more painful for the Occhiogrosso family.

“We respect the decision of the jury,” he added. “Undoubtedly, the family won’t feel a sense of justice.”

Greg Grizopoulos, the defense attorney for Farr, was pleased with the jury’s decision.

“We were very happy the jury was able to see through a lot going on in the courtroom,” Grizopoulos said.

Escorted out of the courtroom by Grizopoulos, Farr was in tears as he addressed reporters in the hallway.

“I’m very sorry for the loss of the two young men in this case,” he said.

This breaking news story will be updated. Continue to visit liherald.com/eastmeadow for more and read the Nov. 18 issue of the East Meadow Herald. 

Updated: 4:34 p.m., 11/12/10

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