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The judge sentenced Deveau, who was 17 at the time of the crash, toconcurrent sentences of 2 -years on a charge of motor vehiclehomicide and 2 years for a charge of negligent operation of a motorvehicle causing serious injury while texting. Noting Deveau s youth and lack of criminal record, Abany orderedthe teen to serve one year in the Essex County House ofCorrections, suspending the rest of the sentences. Deveau, who hasbeen free on bail since his arrest in 2011, was taken into custodyby court officers. Abany said from the bench that a criminal sentence is based on fourprinciples punishment, public safety, rehabilitation, anddeterrence. Of those four issues, deterrence was his primaryconcern. Deterrence really seems to come to play in this case, Abanysaid. People really want to be safe on the highways. Peopleneed to keep their eyes on the road, keep their eyes on theroad. Before Abany imposed his sentence, he heard from Deveau and fromrelatives of Daniel Bowley Jr., the 55-year-old New Hampshire manwho suffered massive injuries in the February 2011 crash, andlingered for 18 days at a Boston hospital before dying. I made a mistake, Deveau told the judge. If I could take itback, I would take it back. I just want to apologize to thefamily. Abany also heard from the sole survivor of the crash Bowley sgirlfriend, Luz Roman and Bowley s sister, Donna Burleigh. According to testimony at the trial, Bowley and Roman were drivingon River Street when Deveau s car crossed the center line andsmashed into Bowley s vehicle head-on on Feb. 20, 2011. Roman told Abany that she suffers both physical and emotional paindue to her injuries and the death of Bowley, the father of threeadult children. This has been giving me a lot of pain, there are no words todescribe, Roman said. Broken leg, broken heart. Burleigh, in her victim impact statement, said her brother died asthe result of a tragic and unnecessary accident. The small courtroom was full today when the verdicts were returned.Some in the crowd of about 50 gasped. In brief comments after the verdicts, Burleigh expressed hope thatthe convictions would change driving habits across the state. We hope this sends a message that it s not OK to text anddrive, Burleigh said. Deveau, whose license was also suspended by the judge for 15 years,was prosecuted under a 2010 state law that makes it a crime toinjure someone during a car crash due to texting while behind thewheel. Prosecutors had also argued that he was texting two minutesbefore the crash, and that his behavior qualified as negligence. State Police spokesman David Procopio issued a statement, saying itwas an important case and the maximum penalty sought by thedistrict attorney was a more appropriate punishment than the oneyear the defendant will serve. We should never forget that his family will see him again, willtalk to him, will mark holidays and milestones with him, but thevictim s family will always have an empty seat at their table, ahole in their lives, and only memories of the person they loved.That s what distracted driving does, the statement said. The verdict comes one day after Deveau fidgeted and gave clippedanswers on the witness stand while testifying in his own defense.He insisted he was not texting at the time of crash and could notremember texting while driving. Globe Correspondent Alejendra Matos contributed to this report. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Turbo Shaft and Wheels Manufacturer , China Thrust collar and spacer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Turbine wheels.
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