Haverhill teen to serve year in jail for fatal texting crash; judge calls for people to keep eyes on road
By Brian R. Ballou and John R. Ellement, Globe Staff
6/6/2012HAVERHILL - Saying he was sending a message of deterrence to Massachusetts drivers, District Court Judge Stephen Abany today imposed maximum sentences on Haverhill teen Aaron Deveau for causing a fatal crash by texting while driving.
The judge sentenced Deveau, who was 17 at the time of the crash, to concurrent sentences of 2 years on a charge of motor vehicle homicide and 2 years for a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle causing serious injury while texting.
Noting Deveau's youth and lack of criminal record, Abany ordered the teen to serve one year in the Essex County House of Corrections, suspending the rest of the sentences. Deveau, who has been free on bail since his arrest in 2011, was taken into custody by court officers.
Abany said from the bench that a criminal sentence is based on four principles - punishment, public safety, rehabilitation, and deterrence. Of those four issues, deterrence was his primary concern.
...