Mandy J. Romeu: Man gets 10 years in prison for drunken Delray Beach boating crash

Associated Press

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A South Florida man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a drunken boating crash in Delray Beach that left a passenger dead.

A Palm Beach County judge sentenced 44-year-old Mandy J. Romeu on Wednesday. He was convicted in October of BUI manslaughter.

Authorities say Romeu had been drinking with Christopher and Alexandra Smith in May 2010 when Romeu invited them to take a ride on his 34-foot Donzi powerboat. Romeu crashed into a navigational marker, and Christopher Smith was thrown from the boat. He later died at a hospital.

Romeu's blood alcohol level was recorded to be 0.137 percent and 0.132 percent after the crash. Florida law considers a person impaired at 0.08.

Romeu's attorney says he plans to appeal.