Chantilly High School’S Prom on April 28
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Wellbeing Page 9 Rebecca Phares and Matthew Bucko went to the National Mall with friends for photos before Chantilly High School’s prom on April 28. Classifieds, Page 10 Classifieds, v Calendar, Page 12 Pre-Prom Backdrop News, Page 9 5-3-18 in home home in Requ ested ested Requ material. material. Time sensitive sensitive Time Year in Jail for Postmaster: Attention Attention permit #322 permit Hit-and-Run Driver MD Easton, PAID News, Page 2 Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT Photo By Tom Manning/The Connection By Tom Photo May 2-8, 2018 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com News Nguyen’s car crash Year in Jail for Hit-and-Run Driver killed a mother of four. By Bonnie Hobbs out and retrieved a water bottle awake — but he couldn’t, and he fell asleep harsher sentence, [Nguyen] has already from the trunk. As she was ap- behind the wheel. That was his choice to served three months in jail. And as a con- o matter what proaching her driver’s-side drive when tired — and it had tragic conse- victed felon, this will affect his life.” sentence Judge door, she was struck by the quences.” Greenspun then asked the judge to consider N Robert Smith defendant’s vehicle.” Furthermore, Bilton didn’t buy Nguyen’s a sentence of time served, but with a “sig- handed down Bilton said Nguyen turned statement that he didn’t realize his vehicle nificant number” of community-service last week, the damage was al- himself in to the Virginia State had struck a car. And she said he should hours added on. ready done: A 37-year-old Police, two days later, giving have understood that a person might have “[Nguyen] had zero intent [to kill or in- mother of four was dead and a them a written statement. “He been inside it. jure the victim],” said Greenspun. “He didn’t young Centreville man was wrote that he’d fallen asleep at Instead, said the prosecutor, “He didn’t hide, or run his car to a body shop [to be about to learn his punishment the wheel and stop, and he only went to the quickly repaired]. He’s a good, young man for causing her death. Nothing Nguyen knew he hit State Police at the urging of who made a tragic mistake.” would ever bring her back, yet something,” “He’s a good, his parents. He fled the But Judge Smith said Nguyen stated that, her family wanted some measure of justice. said the prosecutor. “His scene without stopping to after the accident, he bought a cover for And in the end, so did the judge. On Fri- windshield, bumper and side young man who see if he’d hurt someone. He his car. “There’s only one reason why you day, April 27, in Fairfax County Circuit mirror were damaged.” hit Yesenia Funes because he do this — to cover up something,” said Court, he sentenced Khoa Do Dang Nguyen, “He wrote that he’d left made a tragic was too tired to drive safety. Smith. “This lady was taken from her fam- 24, to a year in jail for the Oct. 8, 2016 hit- work at a restaurant around mistake.” She died on the side of I-66 ily far too soon.” and-run death of Yesenia Esmeralda Funes. 12:30 a.m. and went to eat while he fled the scene.” Then, right before sentencing, Nguyen In this case, the state sentencing guide- at the Silver Diner in — Peter Greenspun, Defense attorney Peter stood and addressed the court. “I want to lines called for a range of one day to six Merrifield, leaving there defense attorney Greenspun, however, tried tell the Funes family how sorry I am for months. But Assistant Commonwealth’s around 2 a.m.” continued to make his client’s actions everything,” he said. “I’d give anything to Attorney Kathleen Bilton told Smith, “I’m Bilton. “He said he didn’t know what he’d that night relatable. “We’ve all been on the take back that night. I’ll have to live with asking you to exceed the guidelines. The hit; he thought it might have been a car road when we’re tired — when you nod off that, the rest of my life. I promise you that victim-impact letters make clear the full because his vehicle had bounced off some- and something wakes you up and you go, I’ll work hard to be a productive member magnitude of this tragedy — four children thing. But he was tired, so he kept driving ‘Wow, that was close,’” he said. of society. I accept full responsi- lost their mother, a hus- home.” “[In this case], there was the bility for what I did.” band lost his wife, and par- Bilton said Nguyen later impact and the noise, but there “I’d give Smith then exceeded the sen- ents lost their child.” discovered that his side was no fleeing.” tencing guidelines and ordered Funes, of Manassas, was “She died on the mirror and part of his He said Nguyen wasn’t a anything to Nguyen to spend a year in jail. the mother of two boys bumper were gone. “He thoughtless or uncaring person. He also gave the defendant and two girls, ages 6-19. side of I-66 while talked about it with his “He works 50-60 hours a week,” take back three additional years behind After Nguyen pleaded he fled the scene.” parents, who encouraged said Greenspun. After leaving bars, but suspended all this time guilty, Jan. 16, to felony him to tell the police what the Silver Diner that night, he that night.” and placed Nguyen on three hit-and-run, Bilton pre- — Kathleen Bilton, had happened,” she said. was headed home to sleep. — Khoa Nguyen, years’ post-release supervision. sented details of the inci- Assistant “In addition, debris at the “There’s no evidence that he defendant Nguyen’s driver’s license was dent to the court. She said Commonwealth’s Attorney scene matched that of the strays from lane to lane. And in suspended for a year, as well. the vehicle crash hap- 2015 Toyota Corolla he a compilation in the intersec- Greenspun then asked the pened around 2:10 a.m. Funes had a black was driving, and DNA profiles of Funes were tion of the circumstances of life, he nods judge if his client could serve his time via Toyota Solara convertible, and Nguyen found on his car.” off at the exact moment Yesenia Funes gets either the work-release program — which drove a Toyota Corolla. In court last Friday, she told Smith, “Yes, a bottle of water. One-tenth of a second, is a combination of outside employment “Yesenia Esmeralda Funes was driving on this was a terrible accident, and no racing either way, and this wouldn’t have hap- plus jail — or home, electronic incarcera- I-66 west, around mile-marker 56, when she or speeding was involved. But he struck and pened.” tion. Smith had no objection, so the final pulled her vehicle over to the right shoul- killed Mrs. Funes. He was tired, had the So, said Greenspun, “While it’s under- say will be up to the county Sheriff’s Of- der and stopped,” said Bilton. “She then got music turned up loud — trying to stay standable that the Funes family expects a fice. Transform I-66 Project to Lead to Overnight Closures Overnight lane closures on Braddock Road starting at 9 p.m. southbound Route 28 between Thursday.I-66 East between Route Westfields Boulevard and 50 and Route 123Lanes on east- Braddock Road are scheduled to bound I-66 between U.S. Route 50 occur Thursday night, May 3. On and Route 123 (Chain Bridge Friday and Saturday nights, May Road) will be shifted toward the 4 and 5, overnight lane closures inside median to support upcom- are scheduled on eastbound I-66 ing construction activity. Closures between U.S. Route 50 and Route are scheduled to occur overnight 123 (Chain Bridge Road). Crews beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday, May will shift travel lanes and set up 4 and Saturday, May 5: work zones for construction on the ❖ Single lane closure at 9 p.m. Transform 66 Outside the Beltway on eastbound I-66 near Monument project. Details are: Drive Southbound Route 28 between ❖ Multi-lane closure at 10 p.m. Braddock Road and Westfields on eastbound I-66 near U.S. Route Southbound Route 28 between Westfields Boulevard and Braddock Road will close Boulevard will be shifted to allow 50 Thursday night, May 3; I-66 East between U.S. Route 50 and Route 123 (Chain Bridge for barriers to be set up along the ❖ Closure of one of two lanes Road) will close Friday and Saturday nights, May 4 and May 5. outside shoulders for upcoming on the eastbound and westbound construction activity.Closures Route 50 ramp to eastbound I-66 50 and Route 123 (Chain Bridge erational east of Route 123. dependent, and will be resched- include:Thursday, May 3: Over- at 10 p.m. Road), which are part of VDOT’s Four travel lanes will be avail- uled if inclement weather occurs. night, two left two lanes will close Drivers are advised that once Active Traffic Management (ATM) able during peak periods through- The I-66 Outside the Beltway Ex- on southbound Route 28 in the this lane shift is implemented, the system, will be transitioned out of out construction of the Transform press Lanes are expected to open vicinity of Willard Road to “red X” signs between U.S.