HAVERHILL, Mass. A Massachusetts teenager was sentenced Wednesday to spend ayear in jail for a fatal traffic accident that happened while hewas texting. Aaron Deveau of Haverhill was sentenced to 2 1/2 years behind barswith a year to serve and the remainder suspended for the February2011 crash that took the life of Donald Bowley Jr., 55, ofDanville, N.H., and seriously injured Bowley's girlfriend. Prosecutors say the then-17-year-old high school student sent 193text messages the day of the crash, including some just a minute orso before impact and dozens more after it. A Haverhill District Court jury convicted Deveau of motor vehiclehomicide and negligent operation while texting. Family members ofboth Deveau and Bowley, sitting just feet from each other in court,cried and hugged as the verdict was read. Deveau apologized to Bowley's family. He was among the first peopleconvicted under a law that took effect in September 2010 thatcreated the criminal charge of texting while driving negligentlyand causing injury. Deveau faced that charge for the injuriescaused to Bowley's girlfriend. Now 18, Deveau, who had faced a maximum of four years behind bars,also was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service andsurrender his driver's license for 15 years. Police say Deveau's car crossed the center line on a Haverhillstreet and crashed head-on into Bowley's vehicle. Bowley, a fatherof three, died 18 days later of injuries authorities say hesuffered in the crash. His passenger and girlfriend, Luz Roman, hadan extensive stay in the hospital recovering from her injuries. "This has been giving me a lot of pain. There are no words todescribe," Roman said outside of court Wednesday. Bowley's sister, Donna Burleigh, said, "We hope this sends amessage that it's not OK to text and drive." Deveau testified Tuesday, saying he was not sending or receivingtext messages in the moments before the collision. He said he puthis phone on the passenger seat and was distracted and thinkingabout his homework when the crash occurred. He told police afterthe crash that he swerved to avoid another vehicle in front of himthat suddenly hit its brakes. His lawyer, Joseph Lussier, said prosecutors failed to prove thatDeveau was texting at the time of the crash. Lussier said thenumber of texts Deveau sent that day was irrelevant. I am an expert from modern-arearug.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Wool Area Rug Manufacturer , Polyester Shaggy Rug, Modern Area Rug,and more.
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