Ex-Milford cop to serve year for crash that killed 2 Orange teens Ex-cop who drove speeding cruiser to serve year for 2009 crash that killed 2 teens ‘

MILFORD >> For two grieving families, the sentencing of former city police Officer Jason Anderson was all about their loss of two teens, his accepting responsibility, and their forgiveness.

“From the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry for your loss and I hope you can forgive me because forgiveness is a big part of healing,” Anderson told them in Superior Court.

“I will never forgive him,” said Ken Krakowski, father of Ashlie Krakowski, one of two Orange teens killed when Anderson’s cruiser hit their car.

Anderson, 41, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison, suspended after one year served, for the deaths nearly seven years ago of Krakowski and David Servin, both 19.

Under the terms of the plea bargain, Anderson also must serve three years of probation. If he violates it, he faces another four years behind bars.

Anderson pleaded no contest to three counts: misconduct with a motor vehicle, a felony; criminal negligence; and reckless driving.

Former Milford police officer Jason Anderson, left, who killed Orange teens David Servin and Ashlie Krakowski in a 2009 car crash, with his lawyer Hugh Keefe, right, as he faces the Servin and Krokowski families and expresses his remorse and asks for forgiveness over their deaths during his sentencing Wednesday. less Former Milford police officer Jason Anderson, left, who killed Orange teens David Servin and Ashlie Krakowski in a 2009 car crash, with his lawyer Hugh Keefe, right, as he faces the Servin and Krokowski ... more Photo: Peter Hvizdak — New Haven Register Photo: Peter Hvizdak — New Haven Register Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Ex-Milford cop to serve year for crash that killed 2 Orange teens 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

Anderson was at the wheel of a speeding cruiser that hit a car on Boston Post Road in Orange and killed the driver, Servin, and passenger, Krakowksi.

Before Superior Court Judge Frank Iannotti handed down the sentence, Servin and Krakowski family members told of the pain from their losses.

“Not a day goes by that we don’t ache, we don’t miss our son. It doesn’t end in one year, five years,” Servin’s mother, Susan Servin, said.

Ken Krakowski questioned the length of the agreed-upon sentence.

“A year in jail? That doesn’t sound like enough,” he said.

Krakowski said he had a dream that his daughter came to him, and shrunk in age and size as he watched.

“‘Daddy, I don’t want to go,’” Ashlie told him.

Prior to the sentencing, Susan Servin said she’d be in favor of the sentence “if the defendant were able to give an apology and express remorse, ask forgiveness.”

‘I’ve let them down’

When asked by Iannotti whether he wanted to address the court, Anderson turned from the defense table and walked over to face the Krakowski and Servin families sitting in the public gallery opposite him.

He spoke several minutes of the consequences of his actions.

“I have a child,” he said. If he were to lose his child, he “couldn’t bear it.”

“I’ve prayed for you. I’ve thought about you,” he told them.

His own family members, and others, filled the public gallery on the defense side of the courtroom.

“I feel like I’ve kind of let my family down. ... But we’re strong, we’ll get through it,” Anderson said.

Superior Court trial

Anderson in 2012 was convicted by a Superior Court jury of reckless driving and two counts of misconduct with a motor vehicle. He was sentenced in 2013 to five years in prison and had been free on bond while he appealed to the state Appellate and Supreme courts.

Anderson was driving 94 mph at 2:15 a.m. June 13, 2009, when he hit the car at Dogwood and Boston Post roads, police have said.

Anderson was not responding to an emergency, and he did not have lights or sirens activated. The crash was caught on a police dashboard camera of another cruise.

Servin was intoxicated. He failed to come to a full stop at a flashing red light and turned into the path of the cruiser.

Servin’s car flipped at least twice, the prosecutor, Ansonia-Milford JD State’s Attorney Kevin D. Lawlor, told Iannotti.

“Neither family is happy with this resolution,” Lawlor told the judge.

But they understand “why I’m doing what I’m doing,” Lawlor said.

After assessing the information, he came to a compromise with the defense that avoids a retrial, Lawlor said.

Outside court, Lawlor said, “Based on the facts that we were dealt with, and the Appellate Court ruling and the issues before our Supreme Court, ... this was the best resolution.”

Defense attorney Hugh F. Keefe told Iannotti it was a tragic case “with no winners.”

Accepting responsibility

After the sentencing, Susan Servin said she was relieved that Anderson accepted responsibility for his actions.

“It would have helped if he did it a long time ago. Today, he accepted responsibility and we’re grateful,” she said.

Ashlie Krakowski’s grandmother, Lois Krakowski, doubted Anderson’s sincerity and said the sentence was a “slap on the wrist.”

“I’m glad he’s going to jail, but it’s not long enough,” Lois Krakowski said outside court.

Ken Krakowski, said Anderson “thinks he took two bad kids off the streets.”

Keefe explained that Anderson’s remarks were “very emotional.”

“Now that the trial is over, and the case is over, he can say what he felt,” Keefe said outside of court.

“And what he felt is he can’t sleep at night. He thinks of these people every single night of his life, and all of us can believe that and it’s affected him in more ways than you can count,” said Keefe, of Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, New Haven.

“He gave a very heartfelt talk, it was touching,” Keefe said.

Anderson has a son, 9, who might be able to handle his father being in prison a year, “but I don’t think he can handle five years,” Keefe said.

As for not talking about the case earlier, Keefe said, “Criminal defendants are in a tough position when it comes to expressing remorse,” Keefe said.

“Their lawyers are always telling them to keep their mouths shut and don’t admit anything and don’t express remorse, because it can be misinterpreted.”

Legal background

After his Superior Court conviction, Anderson took his case to the state Appellate Court, which said inconsistent findings by the jury entitled him to a new trial, Quinnipiac University law professor William V. Dunlap has said.

It ordered that Anderson face charges of negligent homicide with a motor vehicle in the death of Servin, and misconduct with a motor vehicle in Krakowksi’s death.

Keefe has said the Appellate Court found Superior Court Judge Denise Markle committed a “reversible error.”

Anderson then asked the Supreme Court to review the Appellate Court decision and to dismiss the case outright.

The Supreme Court appeal will be withdrawn.

In 2012, the city of Milford agreed to pay $2.5 million to the estate of Servin. Also in 2012, a $4 million settlement was reached in the case brought by Krakowksi’s estate, $3.5 million of it to come from the city of Milford insurance carrier and $500,000 from the administrators of Servin’s estate,