BANGOR, Maine — A Hudson man accused of being drunk New Year’s Day when he drove his Jeep into a tree in a crash that killed his fiancee was indicted Wednesday by the Penobscot County grand jury on one count each of manslaughter and aggravated criminal operating under the influence of intoxicants.
Shawn MacNevin, 42, who has three prior convictions of operating under the influence, was indicted in connection with the 2:30 a.m. crash on Finson Road in Bangor, which left his partner of two decades, Elizabeth “Libby” Marie Horlieca, 37, dead at the scene.
MacNevin’s blood alcohol level was 0.15 percent after the crash, nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08, according to the Michael Roberts, deputy district attorney for Penobscot County.
The defendant was arrested Jan. 7 and released from the Penobscot County Jail on $7,500 cash bail on Jan. 9, according to jail personnel.
Before his arrest, MacNevin was being treated at Eastern Maine Medical Center with injuries not considered life-threatening, according to a previously published report.
MacNevin is expected to be arraigned at the Penobscot Judicial Center May 6.
Six people found MacNevin’s smashed vehicle when they returned to a home on Finson Road after a New Year’s party and noticed snow and ice scattered across the roadway, according to the initial crash report filed by Bangor police officer Jose Vidaurri.
They found his vehicle with massive front-end damage up against a tree. A woman in the group checked the pulse of the driver and passenger and did not feel a Horlieca’s pulse, the crash report stated.
The Jeep’s air bags deployed, but neither MacNevin nor Horlieca were wearing seat belts, according to the crash report.
If convicted, MacNevin faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 on the manslaughter charge alone.
BDN writer Nok-Noi Ricker contributed to this report.