MIAMI — South Florida real estate mogul George Pino pleaded not guilty to a new manslaughter charge related to a 2022 boat crash that killed a 17-year-old girl.
Pino, 54, was already facing a vessel homicide charge in the death of Lucy Fernandez.
The crash happened on 2022’s Labor Day weekend when Pino slammed into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key, killing Fernandez. Her friend, Katy Puig, was left with permanent injuries. Pino’s daughter and 11 other teen girls were on the boat.
Investigators said they eventually found 61 empty cans and bottles of alcohol, an empty champagne bottle and half a bottle of liquor.
Prosecutors said the new charge came about after taking the deposition of one of the girls.
Pino remained out of jail on his own recognizance and appeared in court remotely Wednesday ― camera off.
His attorney, Mark Shapiro, argued the manslaughter charge is redundant and accused the state of trying this case in the media.
“She (Assistant State Attorney Laura Adams) is absolutely doing exactly what she said she is not trying to do by grandstanding,” he said. “This has been a slow-drip prosecution from the beginning of this case.”
Adams, for her part, said of Shapiro, “If he wants to file that motion to dismiss one of those charges, the state will be ready.”
Judge Marisa Tinkler Mendez said the court was “not trying this case in the media.”
“The media has every right to be present, publish information relevant to these proceedings,” she said. “This case will be tried in this court.”
Each of those felonies carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Both sides say they are progressing towards trial as scheduled.
The next hearing in the case is set for Sept. 26 and the trial is set to begin on June 1, 2026.
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