Doctor gets 1 year in jail, fine & more

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Dr. James Corasanti was taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs Thursday morning, at his sentencing in Erie County Court. Corasanti was sentenced to:

• One year in jail
• $1,000 fine
• Ignition interlock device for one year
• Driver's license revoked for six months

Corasanti's legal team officially declined their right to an appeal in court, after the sentencing.

Corasanti will serve his time at Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden. With good behavior, Corasanti can get out after eight months.

Corasanti was sentenced Thursday morning for misdemeanor DWI, relating to the hit-and-run crash that killed Alix Rice.

A jury found Corasanti guilty of a misdemeanor DWI and acquitted him of five felony charges he faced, for an incident that killed 18-year-old Alix Rice.

  >>  You can see WIVB.com's photo gallery remembering Alix Rice

Last July, Rice was skateboarding home along Heim Road when she was struck by Corasanti's BMW.

The judge could have given Corasanti community service, a conditional discharge, probation, a fine or up to one year in jail.

News 4 Legal Analyst Terry Connors, who is representing the Rice family in a civil suit, spoke about Judge Sheila DiTullio’s sentence, saying, “I think you can tell from her presentation today, it was deliberative, she took everything into consideration, thought long and hard about the case, talked about all the elements of the sentence, that was very interesting. Every aspect that can be considered by a judge was considered, and came to her conclusion today.”

COMPLETE COVERAGE | See our continuing coverage on Dr. James Corasanti

The State Health Department released their punishment for Corasanti earlier this month. He gets to keep practicing medicine, while enduring a series of penalties.