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"Never forget my son Steven." Driver gets five years’
probation in 19-year-old’s
drag-racing deathBy Debra Barayuga
Star-BulletinThat's all Pauline and Steven Valoroso Sr. asked from the man who pleaded guilty to causing the death of their firstborn.
Yesterday, they got their wish.
Circuit Judge Wilfred Watanabe sentenced Ralph "Eddie" Clark, 32, not to prison but five years' probation and 200 hours of community service. And he also ordered, at the Valorosos' request, that Clark write out a $1 check to the estate of Steven Valoroso Jr. on the 16th of every month for the next 19 years.
Valoroso was killed on Dec. 16, 1996 -- his 19th birthday.
Pauline Valoroso said she believes her son would be pleased that she had prevailed in her quest to ensure those responsible for his death own up to their actions.
She had asked the court not to sentence Clark, a father of three, to prison because he has a family to care for. "Putting Mr. Clark in jail isn't going to bring Steven back."
She doesn't care about the money. But she wanted Clark to take responsibility for the choices he made that night: buying beer for minors and encouraging a race that at times exceeded 100 mph.
Yesterday, she and family members shed tears as she described the ache that consumes her every day for the loss of her firstborn. "My whole soul hurts. I have so much pain in me," she said, her voice breaking.
She recalled arriving at the scene of the accident to find her son covered with a sheet, except for his hands.
"As far as I was, I saw his hands and I knew it was Steven. I could not believe that God took him the same day He gave him to me."
Clark said he had been waiting for this day to apologize to the Valorosos. "I can't say sorry enough to make you feel better or bring back your son. I never meant to take your son away."
After the crash, Clark said he called for help and stayed by their son until the ambulance came, but there was nothing he could do to save him.
His attorney Keith Shigetomi, who asked the court to sentence Clark to five years' probation, acknowledged the strength it took for the Valorosos not to seek jail time.
Once Clark realized his actions that night were not right and resulted in a severe loss to the Valorosos, he acknowledged that he needed to come to court and say he was wrong, Shigetomi said.
There was no plan or challenge to race that night, only a desire to have fun, he said. The group planned to go to Makaha to party.
Shigetomi noted that Bronson Carrizosa, the 17-year-old driver of the Camaro in which Steven Valoroso Jr. was a passenger, admitted in court to driving between 80 and 90 mph, cutting in and out of traffic.
And it was Carrizosa who chose to overtake Clark one last time before losing control of his car. After the crash, Carrizosa fled onto the beach and tried to hide before police arrived, Shigetomi said.
Carrizosa pleaded no contest to second-degree negligent homicide, was sentenced to 85 days' probation and ordered to attend AA meetings.
Deputy Prosecutor Lori Wada argued that probation would be inappropriate given his past record and that Clark should serve a 10-year term.
His actions that night "cost Steven Jr. his life," Wada said.
If the court was considering probation, she asked that Clark be ordered to spend at least a year in jail.
That's how long Victor Valoroso, Steven's younger brother, is serving for the traffic-related death of 10-year-old Jerry Kekahuna in Waianae in December 1998.
Victor Valoroso took responsibility and pleaded guilty to first-degree negligent homicide. His term expires in June.