![\"Nicole](\"https:\/\/www.newsday.com\/_next\/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.newsday.com%2Fimage-service%2Fversion%2Fc%3AZTc0NzMxZDgtODliNS00%3AYjMyZjcw%2Fimage.jpg%3Ff%3DMugshot%26w%3D100%26q%3D1&w=256&q=75\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\n\tNicole Fuller is Newsday’s senior criminal justice reporter. He started working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.\n<\/p>\n
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A 19-year-old Valley Stream driver has been charged with fatally hitting a skateboarder in Westbury earlier this year, Nassau County prosecutors said Tuesday. <\/p>\n
Mactyme Michel, 19, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday in Nassau County Court in Mineola to a charge of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Gerrin Hagen, 18, of Long Beach, van say the prosecutors. <\/p>\n
Judge Christopher Hoefenkrieg released Michel to pretrial services. <\/p>\n
“Gerrin Hagen’s life was tragically cut short when this defendant allegedly ran a stop sign and struck the young man, who was riding a skateboard,” said Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Hagen was a talented ice hockey and lacrosse player who was loved by the entire Long Beach community. We continue to mourn with his family, friends and classmates as we process this case.” <\/p>\n
Michel’s attorney, Anthony Grandinette, based in Mineola, issued a written statement about the charge. <\/p>\n
“The defendant, 19-year-old Mactyme Michel, and his family are devastated by the loss of the Hagen family and my client remains burdened with a heavy heart,” he wrote. <\/p>\n
Grandinette said the evidence points to “a tragic car accident, and not a crime.” He said his client called 911 to report the crash to police and stayed at the scene, cooperating with police. He said neither drugs nor alcohol played a role in this case. <\/p>\n
Hagen was skateboarding on Cantiague Lanenear Sunnyside Lane in Westbury on Jan. 12 at about 2:25 p.m. when Michel, who was driving a 2012 Honda Pilot northwest, allegedly drove around a vehicle in front of him and continue driving without stopping at a stop. sign, prosecutors said. <\/p>\n
Michael, while still on the left side of the road, then allegedly struck Hagen from behind as he rode his skateboard from a Nassau BOCES location to his car. <\/p>\n
Hagen died the next day at Nassau University Medical Center. <\/p>\n
\tA photograph of Gerrin Hagen is displayed as teammates, friends and family attend a candlelight vigil in his honor in Long Beach on January 14, 2023. Credit: Howard Simmons<\/p>\n
Hagen, who was a senior at Long Beach High School and a student at Nassau BOCES, played lacrosse and was a star defenseman in hockey. <\/p>\n
Michel is due back in court on August 21. <\/p>\n
If convicted, he faces 1 1\/3 to 4 years in prison. <\/p>\n