A judge has lowered the bail set for the Yonkers DPW worker accused of fatally hitting a Stepinac High School student and leaving the scene.
Citing new state bail reform laws, a Westchester County Court judge reduced Stephen Dolan’s bail from $2.4 million to just half a million dollars.
Dolan is charged in the hit-and-run death of Christopher Jack (CJ) Hackett a week ago.
Dolan’s attorney argued that the 46-year-old Yonkers DPW worker is a father of three, and that two of the children, ages 19 and 15, live with him. He also said Dolan has complied with investigators since he was taken into custody.
But prosecutors argued against a bail reduction, saying Dolan admitted to taking drinking alcohol the night of the accident and did not come forward. They said he was arrested 36 hours later and had allegedly tried to repair his vehicle, which sustained damage.
Prosecutors also said Dolan knew through his law enforcement friends and family that investigators were looking for him. “His actions speak volumes," they said.
The father of a friend of the victim who witnessed the accident was in the court room today and was not happy with the judge’s decision “I’m disappointed in the court system, I really am….he’s a killer. I don’t think he did it on purpose, but he did take somebody’s life. Poor CJ now has a life sentence in the ground and this gentleman gets to walk away on bail,” says Tony Solieri.