Cranston man sentenced to 15 years in state prison for violent DUI crash

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Cranston man was sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve 15 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) in prison for driving under the influence and causing a crash that seriously injured his 10-year-old son and another passenger in Cranston in 2019.

On January 25, 2024, Superior Court Justice Stephen P. Nugent sentenced Glenn Teolis (age 52) to 25 years, with 15 years to serve at the ACI, a $10,000 fine, alcohol counseling and treatment, and a 5-year loss of license upon release of the ACI. On November 29, 2023, following a six-day jury trial the defendant was found guilty of two counts driving under the influence resulting in serious bodily injury, two counts of reckless driving resulting in serious bodily injury, and one count of felony reckless driving. He was previously convicted of reckless driving in 2002 and 2008.

“Every time someone chooses to drive while under the influence, they are putting many lives at risk,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Not only might an impaired driver hurt or kill someone, they might also cause irreparable emotional harm to the family and friends of their potential victims. This defendant carelessly chose to take that risk and caused serious harm to his 10-year-old son and another passenger. He will now be held accountable for that choice. I am grateful to the Cranston Police and the entire investigative and prosecution team for their work on this case and so many others.”

During the trial, the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that on March 31, 2019, the defendant drove recklessly under the influence of alcohol and caused a crash on Olney Arnold Road in Cranston that seriously injured his 10-year old son and another 21-year old passenger.

Prior to the incident, the defendant flew to Rhode Island from Florida, where he was living at the time, to visit his son. After he arrived in Rhode Island, the defendant, took his son, and a 21-year old co-worker to multiple bars in East Greenwich. While at those bars, the defendant drank multiple alcoholic beverages, as witnessed by wait staff.

At approximately 8:20 p.m. that evening, the defendant left the bar in his 2018 Nissan Altima with his son and co-workers as passengers. During the drive, both passengers asked the defendant multiple times to slow down and stop, to which the defendant refused. According to testimony, the defendant reached speeds of 100 mph on Route 295 North and drove in the breakdown lane to pass vehicles.

At approximately 8:45 p.m., the defendant encountered a slight curve on Olney Arnold Road in Cranston at a high rate of speed and lost control of the vehicle. The car went off the road, crossing a driveway before striking a large tree with such force as to wrap the hood around the tree and lift the rear of the vehicle upward. According to vehicle sensors, the car was traveling 75 miles per hour moments before the crash, and the brakes were not activated. The speed limit on Olney Arnold Road is 25 miles per hour.

Investigators determined that the defendant had a BAC of .125 one hour after the crash. First responders addressed injuries to the passengers, which were extensive and required multiple weeks of hospitalization.

“With this sentence, I am glad to see the defendant was held accountable, as this serious incident was completely avoidable,” said Colonel Michael J. Winquist of the Cranston Police Department. “Individuals who choose to drive impaired risk hurting themselves and others, which is exactly what happened in this case. I want to thank our officers and investigators, as well as our partners at the Attorney General’s Office, for their investigation and prosecution of this case.”

Special Assistant Attorney General Stephen A. Regine of the Office of the Attorney General and Inspector David Boucher of the Cranston Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.