Richmond, 44, of Elmsford, Westchester County, was arraigned April 1 on charges of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree and two counts of misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated at Orange County Court. The indictment alleges that on July 27, 2023, Richmond drove his personal vehicle while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of at least 0.08% and caused the death of Nieva Nieves while off-duty.
According to the Attorney General's Office, Richmond allegedly collided with Nieves' motorcycle shortly after midnight as she traveled northbound on I-87 in Cornwall, Orange County. Nieves was thrown from the motorcycle, suffered traumatic injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene. The indictment alleges Richmond was intoxicated at the time of the collision.
Judge Craig Brown continued Richmond's bail at $40,000 bond with a $20,000 cash alternative during the arraignment. Richmond is scheduled to return to court on May 1, 2026. If convicted on the top count, he faces a maximum sentence of two and one-third to seven years in prison.
The case falls under the Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation (OSI), which is required by New York Executive Law Section 70-b to assess every incident where a police officer or peace officer may have caused a person's death, whether on-duty or off-duty. OSI conducts full investigations when its assessment indicates an officer caused a death.
Richmond was initially arrested and arraigned on the same charges June 17, 2025, before Judge Paul Trachte at Newburgh City Court, where he posted $20,000 cash bail. The case has since moved to Orange County Court for the formal indictment proceedings.
The prosecution represents part of the Attorney General's broader mandate to investigate police-involved deaths throughout New York State. OSI's jurisdiction extends to incidents involving armed or unarmed decedents and applies whether the person was in custody, incarcerated, or a civilian.