Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 36-year-old Paul Hintermeier of Cheektowaga has been arraigned by State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski on an indictment charging him with two counts of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree and Leaving the Scene of an Incident Resulting in Death. 

It is alleged that on August 11, 2017, at around midnight, the defendant, with a BAC level of .16, twice the legal limit, was driving on Richard Drive in the Town of Cheektowaga when he ran a stop sign as he turned left onto Shanley Street, striking a bicyclist, 18-year-old Damian Garra of Cheektowaga, who later died. 

Hintermeier pleaded not guilty and was remanded to jail without bail. 

If convicted of all the charges, Hintermeier faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. 

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of the Cheektowaga Police Department, including Officer Eric Jakubowicz and Lt. Steven Berecz. 

Assistant District Attorney Patrick B. Shanahan is prosecuting the case. 

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.