A Suffolk County judge released a previously deported illegal immigrant without bail following his fourth felony drunk driving conviction in a decade, sparking outrage from prosecutors who warn he poses a continuing danger to the community.

Pattern of Offenses and Deportation

Pablo Aguilar-Alvarez, 36, a Salvadoran national, was deported from the United States on March 1, 2024, after his third felony driving while intoxicated conviction. His criminal record includes felony DWI arrests on June 16, 2022, and twice in 2017 on April 19 and October 11. He also received a misdemeanor drunk driving charge in 2012. Despite his removal from the country, Aguilar-Alvarez illegally reentered the United States and continued the same dangerous behavior that led to his deportation.

On November 29, 2023, Southampton police responded to a 911 call from a gas station where Aguilar-Alvarez had pulled in to purchase more alcohol. His girlfriend, alarmed by his condition, asked the clerk to contact authorities. When officers arrived, they found Aguilar-Alvarez attempting to exit from the passenger side of his vehicle in an apparent effort to conceal that he had been driving. A sobriety test revealed his blood alcohol content measured 0.17, more than double the legal limit of 0.08.

Conviction and Controversial Release

A jury convicted Aguilar-Alvarez on Friday following trial. He faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison when he appears for sentencing on October 2. However, Suffolk County Judge Bryan Browns ordered his release without bail until that date, rejecting prosecutors’ request to keep him detained. The decision drew sharp criticism from Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, who emphasized the public safety risk posed by the defendant’s release.

Tierney stated that Aguilar-Alvarez represents a clear danger to society, noting his repeated choices to drive while intoxicated despite multiple felony convictions. The district attorney expressed concern that nothing prevents the convicted defendant from getting behind the wheel again before his sentencing date, potentially endangering Suffolk County residents. The state Office of Court Administration did not provide immediate comment regarding the judge’s bail decision.

Public Safety Concerns

The case highlights ongoing tensions between judicial discretion and public safety concerns, particularly involving repeat offenders who have previously been removed from the country. Prosecutors argue that Aguilar-Alvarez’s pattern of behavior demonstrates both disregard for the law and persistent risk to the community. His willingness to illegally reenter the United States after deportation, combined with his immediate return to drunk driving, underscores the challenges facing law enforcement and the court system in protecting citizens from dangerous repeat offenders.