A former New York state trooper convicted of manslaughter in the death of 11-year-old Monica Goods is set to learn his fate Tuesday, June 2, in Ulster County Court. The sentence follows a Dec. 22, 2020 traffic stop and high-speed pursuit on the New York State Thruway that ended in a violent rollover crash, ejecting Monica from the family SUV. Relatives are expected to give emotional victim-impact statements before the judge rules.
As reported by CBS New York, former trooper Christopher Baldner will appear for sentencing facing up to 15 years behind bars. Prosecutors are expected to push for a substantial prison term, and Monica’s family members plan to address the court directly.
What prosecutors say
Prosecutors say Baldner used his marked patrol car to strike the rear of the Goods family’s SUV twice during the chase, causing it to flip and eject Monica, according to AP. They also say he had pepper-sprayed the vehicle during the initial traffic stop and that the pursuit hit speeds of up to 130 mph, details reported by NBC New York.
The state Attorney General’s office called the manslaughter conviction "some semblance of justice" for Monica’s family, according to NBC New York.
Defense and legal history
Baldner’s attorneys have argued that the driver, Tristin Goods, was the one acting recklessly and that the crash followed only minor contact and an overcorrection, with an accident-reconstruction expert testifying for the defense, local reporting shows. A prior jury in November acquitted Baldner of murder and several reckless-endangerment counts but deadlocked on a manslaughter charge, which led to the retrial that ended with a guilty verdict this March, according to Times Union. Baldner retired in 2022 after nearly 20 years with the New York State Police, per local coverage.
What comes next
At sentencing, Baldner faces a statutory range of five to 15 years in state prison, and he has remained free on bail while awaiting the hearing, according to AP. Whatever term the judge hands down, and any appeals that follow, will be closely watched as the case has intensified scrutiny of New York State Police pursuit policies and training.
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