49°
Paul Ludeman, age 56, of Holtsville, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including endangering the welfare of a child, in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, April 25, stemming from the February 2023 incident.
According to the Suffolk County DA’s Office, Ludeman was drunk on Feb. 14, 2023 when he stole the vehicle, which had a 14-month-old child sleeping inside, and drove away in Greenport.
The infant’s grandmother and a good Samaritan followed Ludeman and were able to rescue the toddler from the vehicle, prosecutors said. The child was not injured.
Ludeman then continued driving the stolen car before eventually crashing into a guardrail.
“This defendant had absolutely no regard for the law or anyone, for that matter, when he stole a vehicle with a baby in the backseat while under the influence of alcohol,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said in a statement.
“This could have ended in a tragedy… This blatant disregard for the public’s safety was thoughtless and now the defendant is going back to prison.”
In court Tuesday, Ludeman pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Third-degree grand larceny (felony)
- Endangering the welfare of a child (misdemeanor)
- Driving while ability impaired (misdemeanor)
Ludeman is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, May 30, and faces between two and four years in prison.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Brentwood and receive free news updates.
