Albany, NY – 17-year-old Caleb Maya of Albany was sentenced to 3 to 9 years in State Prison before the Hon. Andra Ackerman in Albany County Court Friday afternoon. That sentence follows his January 30, 2024 plea of guilty to One Count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree.

That plea fully satisfies the initial indictment, which also included One Count of Assault in the Second Degree, Two Counts of Assault in the Third Degree, and One Count of Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

The indictment alleged that on or about October 7, 2023, while on Interstate 890 in the Town of Colonie, the defendant recklessly caused the death of 14-year-old A’Mon Willis, and injured two other victims.

Specifically, Maya drove at over 100 miles per hour, lost control of the vehicle (where the victims were passengers), and crashed into another vehicle. The impact of that collision ejected Willis from the car, causing his death.

Additionally, Maya was not granted Youthful Offender status.

The victim’s Mother, Jessica Willis said:

“I can’t even describe the pain that I feel every single day, since the moment I was told that A’mon passed away. I’m broken. I feel an emptiness inside, and mentally I know I’ll never be the same. A parent should never bury their child.”

The victim’s father, Alphonso Willis said:

“Every day I deal with this sadness and guilt as a parent. Seeing his toothbrush in the same spot since he last used it, or his bed still made so I can pretend nothing happened. Every day is a struggle for us.”

ADA Mary Tanner-Richter said:

“In the PSI (pre-sentence investigation report) the defendant refers to A’mon Willis as his best friend, his brother… You lose the right to call someone your best friend, your brother, when you drive a stolen car at 111 miles per hour, in the rain, without a license, after having consumed alcohol, with cannabis in your blood, and crash causing catastrophic injuries, then try to pin blame on the victim”

Assistant District Attorney Mary Tanner-Richter, the Bureau Chief of the Vehicular Crimes Unit, handled the prosecution of this case.