Woman charged in local wrecker driver’s death sentenced (TX)

[TowNews]

BELTON, Texas (KWTX) A woman who earlier pleaded no contest to a criminally negligent homicide charge in the death of a local tow truck driver was sentenced to five years deferred adjudication probation Tuesday.

 

Sybil Warrick was sentenced in the 264th District Courty by Judge Paul LePak.

 

If she successfully completes the term of probation, the conviction won’t appear on her record.

 

The victim's family was present in the courtroom during the sentencing.

 

Warrick was indicted on May 2, 2018 for criminally negligent homicide in Scott Bowle's death.

 

The 39-year-old tow truck driver was working along U.S. Highway 190 on May 11, 2017 when officials said a minivan struck him and amputated his leg.

 

Bowles was taken to Seton Medical Center in Harker Heights where he later died.

 

Warrick was later arrested in Fort Smith, Ark. on a Bell County warrant.

 

She was returned to Bell County to face the charge.

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

Proof Judges "DO NOT CARE"

Woman gets five years deferred adjudication for criminally negligent homicide

BELTON — A woman who ran over and killed a tow truck driver May 11, 2017, was sentenced Tuesday to 5 years deferred adjudication probation — with some slight modifications, her judge said.

 

Scott Bowles was killed while loading a disabled vehicle onto the back of his tow truck off Interstate 14 in Harker Heights.

 

Sybil Warrick from Fort Smith, Ark., might be able to serve her probation in her home state if emergency approval is granted through the Interstate Compact. Until approval is granted, Warrick can’t leave Bell County.

 

Warrick can’t drive at all while on probation unless a doctor certifies she is able to drive, Bell County 264th District Court Judge Paul LePak said.

 

She could have been sentenced to probation or state jail for up to 2 years, but it could have been as little as 180 days, according to the Texas Penal Code.

 

LePak waived a curfew for Warrick and reduced her community service from 300 hours to 100 hours. Warrick must participate in a violence intervention program, take all medications as prescribed by a physician, repay all court costs and attorney fees, have psychological screening and counseling if prescribed, undergo substance abuse testing and complete several other programs. She must also pay about $580 in restitution.

The hearing

Warrick waited outside the courtroom in a wheelchair as she did for a Jan. 11hearing. When it was time, she was pushed into the courtroom by her husband and was told to sit at the defense table.

Bowles’ wife, Stephanie, their son Sean, family members and supportive friends walked into the room, most of them wearing “Tow Lives Matter” T-shirts.

 

The prosecution, led by Stephanie Newell, presented no evidence before sentencing.

 

Anthony Smith was Warrick’s attorney, and he asked LePak to sentence Warrick to deferred adjudication probation.

Smith repeatedly referred to Bowles’ death as an accident and said Arkansas didn’t have a Move Over or Slow Down law. He claimed Warrick didn’t know about the law, so she shouldn’t be held as responsible.

 

Smith talked about Warrick’s medical condition and said she was in the hospital at least once a week while she waits for a liver transplant. Smith objected to the drug or alcohol testing, the curfew and community service based on her medical condition. He also asked for her probation to be moved to Arkansas because being in Texas was a hardship for Warrick and her family.

 

Newell pointed out Arkansas’ law was very similar to that of Texas and asked LePak to sentence Warrick to no less than 5 years probation — but not deferred probation. She brought up the Interstate Compact, explained it to LePak and Smith and asked that Warrick be required to serve her probation in Bell County.

 

Smith said putting Warrick in jail would kill her and she would die if she didn’t go back to Arkansas.

 

LePak stated the verdict he’d made and authorized Warrick’s return to Arkansas if it was approved.

 

Warrick waived her right to appeal.

Victim’s family speaks out

Stephanie Bowles walked to the podium to address Warrick — the first time she’d ever spoken to her. Sean, age 10, leaned on his mother.

 

Stephanie described Scott Bowles as a man many people knew, honored and respected. She talked about the life they’d had together that was terminated because of Warrick. She said Sean was so traumatized by his father’s death that he still goes to counseling every week.

 

“I know for a fact every single light was on. You had plenty of time to slow down and move over,” she told Warrick. “It’s no excuse to say you’re from another state. What was so important you took your eyes off the road?”

 

Stephanie vividly described the awful injuries her husband suffered — injuries that caused him to bleed out and die.

One of Stephanie’s closing statements was very poignant.

 

“I forgive you — for my salvation,” she said.

 

After the hearing, Stephanie said didn’t like the fact that Warrick won’t have Scott’s death on her record if she successfully completes her probation, but she and Sean are both relieved the trial ordeal is over and they can get on with their lives.

 

She anticipated Warrick would get probation, but she’s not happy with it and the laws in place, Stephanie said. She will fight to get the laws changed so the next person hit on the side of the road won’t have to go through this.

 

“I was able to tell her (Warrick) exactly how I felt,” Stephanie said. “She sat there with no emotion, which angered me even more. …. I do not believe she thinks this was an event she could have helped. I feel that she has no remorse for the life that she took,” she said.

 

She wants Warrick to vividly remember what happened when her vehicle hit Scott.

 

“I want her to see his face every time she lays her head down and closes her eyes — what his face looked like when his face hit her windshield and his body was battered by her vehicle. I want her to feel that pain. We went through it every day,” Stephanie said.

 

http://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_b19b2cc4-3461-11e9-af52-932ec89f6c43.html

[TowZone]

 

Scott Bowles
Born : March 18, 1978
Entered into rest : May 11, 2017

39 years old

 

Bowles, was loading a disabled vehicle onto the back of his Goode Towing truck at about 6:20 a.m. in Harker Heights when a minivan in the westbound lane of U.S. Highway 190/Highway 14 struck him and amputated his right leg below the knee.

 

The tow truck’s emergency headlights were activated and Bowles was walking to the disabled vehicle when he was hit. He was rushed by ambulance to Seton Medical Center Harker Heights, where he died at 7:09 a.m.

 

RESOURCE LINK