Medina man pleads guilty to criminally negligent homicide in death of brother

ALBION – A Medina man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court this morning to criminally negligent homicide.

Todd D. Sands, 56, admitted to drinking heavily on May 8 while spending time with his brother Timothy R. Sands, also 56.

Todd Sands was driving up to 94 miles per hour on Route 31A when he went off the road and struck a tree. Both men were ejected from the vehicle with Timothy Sands killed in the crash.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said Todd Sands had a blood alcohol content of 0.175 percent, more than twice the legal limit.

In court this morning in front of Judge Sanford Church, Todd Sands admitted that he had been drinking alcohol with his brother and playing the Wii video game prior to them getting in a minivan. Todd Sands said he has no recollection of driving that day but he recalls drinking and then waking up in a hospital.

He pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide where a person acts in a way “that fails to recognize a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death, that a reasonable person would observe would establish the necessary intent.”

The charge carries a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison. As part of a plea agreement today, Todd Sands faces a maximum of 6 months in the Orleans County Jail and five years of probation when he is sentenced on Jan. 3.

Cardone did not request bail for Todd Sands, who the DA said “has been totally cooperative.”