A New York State trooper who caused the death of an 11-year-old girl when he rammed his patrol vehicle into the child’s family car during an upstate chase was sentenced to two and a half to seven and a half years in prison on a manslaughter charge.
Young Monica Goods was a passenger in her parents’ car in Dec. 2020 when Trooper Christopher Baldner, 48, pulled the vehicle over in Ulster County and pepper-sprayed the driver during the stop, officials said.
After the driver sped off, Baldner gave chase, twice rear-ending the vehicle, which skidded into the center guard rail, flipped over and came to rest upside down.
The impact ejected Monica from the car. She was pronounced dead a short time later.
Monica Goods, 11.
During the trial, Baldner’s defense team had tried to blame the Brooklyn girl’s father, Tristin Goods, who was driving the car during the high-speed chase that ended near Kingston, saying he had acted recklessly.
Baldner’s attorneys said the accident occurred after the SUV cut the trooper off as he pulled alongside during the pursuit.
But Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Gashi told jurors that Baldner had “recklessly used his patrol car as a weapon” during the deadly chase.
An Ulster County jury found Baldner guilty in March.
Ulster County Sheriff’s Office
Christopher Baldner. (Ulster County Sheriff’s Office)
“I wouldn’t say this is justice. I would call this accountability,” Monica’s mother, Michelle Surrency, told the Daily News after the verdict.
“To me, justice is Monica coming back, and we know that’s not going to happen. At least we stopped him from doing this to another family.”
The retired trooper was taken into custody following the sentencing.
The Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers issued a statement after his conviction in March, saying they were “deeply disappointed by (the) verdict.”