By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer
Circuit Judge Wilfred Watanabe sentenced Ralph E. "Eddie" Clark Jr. yesterday to 98 days in jail and five years probation for the the Dec. 16, 1996, traffic death of Steven Valoroso Jr. of Wai‘anae.
But Pauline Valoroso came away from court yesterday with two things she wanted the most: an apology from the man she holds responsible for causing her son’s death on the night of his 19th birthday, and an unusual requirement included in the sentence that Clark mail a $1 check, dated the 16th of each month, to the estate of Steven Valoroso Jr.
Watanabe told Clark, 32, that he could only order him to make the $1-a-month payments for five years, the length of time Clark will be on probation. But he told Clark that he hopes he will continue making the payments for 19 years, a condition sought by Valoroso’s family.
The judge credited Clark with the time he spent behind bars while awaiting trial, meaning he won’t have to serve any additional jail time.
In December 1998, another of Valoroso’s sons, Victor, ran a red light with his pickup truck and struck and killed a 10-year-old boy on Farrington Highway. He was 18 years old at the time, a senior at Wai‘anae High School. He apologized publicly for his actions, and was sentenced to a year in prison for second-degree negligent homicide.
Clark was driving a truck that was racing with a Camaro in which Valoroso was a back-seat passenger. Valoroso was ejected and killed when the Camaro flipped over near Makaha Surfing Beach.
Pauline Valoroso insisted police let her view the scene of the accident and made a vow that night to her deceased son to make those responsible "own up" for what had happened.
"I feel I won here today," she told family members and friends after Clark was sentenced. "I didn’t want Eddie Clark to ever forget Steven."
The $1 a month that Clark, who pleaded guilty to first-degree negligent homicide, will have to mail to Steven Valoroso’s estate will ensure that he does not forget her son, Pauline Valoroso said.
And he said she can live with the fact that Clark won’t have to serve any more time behind bars.
"It’s not about jail, it’s about owning up for what happened. Eddie Clark’s a daddy, too, and his children need him to be there for them. Eddie Clark still has a chance to turn his life around."
Correction: Ralph E. "Eddie" Clark Jr. was driving a truck that was racing with a Camaro in which Steven Valoroso was a back-seat passenger on Dec. 16, 1996. Valoroso was ejected and killed when the Camaro flipped over near Makaha Surfing Beach. A previous version of this story contained incorrect information.
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