(New Haven, CT) – New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. announced today that a jury in Superior Court in New Haven on October 23, 2026 found Joseph Duarte, age 54, of New Haven, guilty of the crimes of Manslaughter in the Second Degree with a Motor Vehicle, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-55(a)(3), Misconduct with a Motor Vehicle, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-57 and Illegal Operation of a Motor Vehicle under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-227a in New Haven. The Honorable Tracy Lee Dayton presided over the trial.
Evidence introduced at trial showed that on March 11, 2022, at 1:00 a.m. at the intersection of Middletown Avenue and Flint Street in New Haven, the defendant operated a 2014 Nissan Murano while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and caused the death of Christian Sanchez-Martinez, age 28, of West Haven. The defendant had an elevated blood alcohol content of 0.11 at the time his vehicle struck the victim’s Toyota. The event data recorder retrieved from the vehicle the defendant was operating that night showed he was traveling at speeds of 86 mph 2 ½ seconds prior to the crash.
The case was investigated by Lt. Savannah Smith of the New Haven Police Department and prosecuted by Senior Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Lindade, with the assistance of Inspector Michael Mastropetre, Investigator Dietrich Hernandez and Victim Advocate Brandi Madaric.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 22, 2026, in New Haven Superior Court.