by Karen M. Johnson
Sophia Santos, daughter of Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos, remained in a Nassau County, N.Y., jail Nov. 21, 10 days after being arrested for drunk driving, which resulted in the death of a Long Island, N.Y., woman.
Santos, 20, has no legal representation.
On Nov. 14, attorney Felice Muraca asked a district judge to be relieved of representing Santos because neither she nor her family signed a retainer agreement, which is required by New York law in all criminal cases. Judge Susan Kluewer granted Muraca’s request, and asked the Santos family, including Jose, to return to court Nov. 21 with financial documents that would either prove or disprove their ability to hire an attorney.
Maria Santos, Sophia’s mother, attended the Nov. 21 hearing, but Jose, her ex-husband, did not, nor did he appear at the prior hearing. Judge Dana Jaffe accepted documents from Maria Santos, who said she cannot afford an attorney for her daughter.
Jaffe ordered Jose Santos to come to court, with his financial documentation, Nov. 26.
Sophia Santos was not present at the latest hearing.
Santos was reportedly in his native Chile when his daughter was arrested in the early morning hours of Nov. 11. Maria Santos told Jaffe Nov. 21 that she was waiting to hear from her ex-husband, who was expected back in the United States Nov. 18.
Sophia Santos is being held on a $1-million bond or $500,000 cash bail.
Fatally injured in the accident was 62-year-old Virginia Casazza Urgo, who died at the scene in Levittown, N.Y. Two other passengers in the car with Urgo--her husband, John, and sister, Linda Chapman--were also injured.
According to Chapman’s attorney, Herbert J. Marek, his client is still recovering from her injuries, including four fractures, and is in intensive care at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.
