Robert Core to Start Prison Term on Thursday

Former Hempstead Public Safety Officer Robert Core - whose car struck and killed pedestrian Eddie Albert Cotto, 50, of Lindenhurst, while he was allegedly driving while intoxicated in July of 2011 - will surrender to Nassau County Court on Thursday, October 4, to serve a nine-month prison term, according to Nassau County Court officials.

While Core was cleared of manslaughter charges, he was found guilty of aggravated drunken driving, a misdemeanor, this past July, and sentenced on September 27.

According to detectives, Core, of Hempstead, was responding to an emergency call in Levittown when he struck Cotto who was crossing Hempstead Turnpike near Franklin Avenue.

Core was driving a Town of Hempstead Public Safety Vehicle.

Cotto, was pronounced dead at Nassau University Medical Center upon arrival, police said.

Cops later found that Core drove an additional 150 feet after he hit Cotto. Core was charged with second-degree manslaughter and DWI. He was found not guilty of manslaughter this past Summer.

Shortly after Core's arrest, the Town of Hempstead fired him.

Core will also have three years probation, and his license will be revoked for six months, according to the New York State Unified Court System website.

Michael Ganci contributed to this report.

Related:

• Report: Man Cleared of Manslaughter in Death of Lindenhurst Man
• Robert Core Acquitted of Manslaughter Charges
• Robert Core to Be Fired from Town of Hempstead Post
• Nassau Police: Core Drove 150 Feet with Victim on Hood
• Lindenhurst Man Killed in East Meadow