Truck driver in rear-end crash that killed Paton farmer
In Greene County district court Troy Michael Shaw, 26, of Jefferson was sentenced Nov. 9 to one year in jail after he was found guilty Sept.30 at a trial by testimony of possession of heroin. The jail time was suspended and he was placed on probation for two years. He must undergo a substance abuse evaluation and complete any recommended treatment at his own expense. He was fined $315with a $110.25 surcharge, a $125 Law Enforcement Initiative surcharge and as $10 Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) surcharge.
In a related case in magistrate court Shaw was sentenced to 30 days in jail on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and 30 days each on two traffic citations for failure to stop in assured clear distance. The jail terms are consecutive – 90 days total. He must pay sheriff’s room and board fees for the time he serves. Shaw was fined $65 with a $22.75 surcharge on the possession charge and on the two traffic citations. Court costs were $140.
A citation for use of electronic communication device was dismissed in the interest of justice.
The charges are in connection with the death of Paton farmer Pat Fields June 6, 2017. Fields was driving a tractor when Shaw, who was driving a grain truck, struck him in the rear. The tractor rolled onto Fields; Fields was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Honorable Joseph McCarville wrote in the sentencing document “The facts of this case show that Defendant’s acts exceed negligence and were at least reckless in nature… the act of possession heroin and paying so little attention to his surroundings while driving…that he rear ends a tractor driving off to the side of the road resulting in the death of the tractor driver is so aggravating to justify an extraordinary 90 day jail sentence.”
