A Waterville man who was speeding and under the influence of multiple drugs when he caused a fatal crash in Dresden in 2017 has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Patrick J. Shorey, 26, pleaded guilty Monday to one count each of class A manslaughter, class B aggravated criminal OUI, class C aggravated criminal OUI, class C driving to endanger, class D unlawful possession of scheduled drugs, and class E operating without a license.
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For the manslaughter conviction, he faces a likely sentence of 10 years, with the majority of the sentence suspended. Prosecutors will recommend Shorey serve up to four years in prison, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Gerety said.
In addition, Shorey will likely serve four years of probation and pay at least $2,100 in fines, and his driver’s license will be suspended for at least 10 years, he said.
The probation conditions will prohibit Shorey from operating a motor vehicle, prohibit his possession or use of alcohol or illegal drugs, require him to submit to random searches and tests, require him to undergo treatment for substance abuse, and prohibit him from having contact with the victim’s family.
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He will likely receive concurrent sentences for the other charges, Gerety said.
A sentencing hearing is tentatively scheduled for May 28.
The fatal wreck occurred June 2, 2017, just north of the Wiscasset town line.
Shorey was driving a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu south, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Rand Maker said at the time of the crash. Carolyn G. Blouin, 75, of Rockville, Conn., was driving a 1995 Toyota Camry station wagon north.
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Shorey crossed the centerline and struck the Blouin vehicle, Maker said at the time. Carolyn Blouin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her husband and passenger, Charles J. Blouin, 81, was seriously hurt, Maker said. Shorey was also hurt.
According to the Kennebec Journal, Gerety said an accident reconstruction revealed that Shorey had been driving 69 mph, 14 miles over the speed limit, and did not attempt to slow down. Carolyn Blouin was driving 26 mph as she tried to avoid the collision. She swerved right, but was forced into a guardrail.
Shorey tested positive for methamphetamine and THC, the active component of marijuana, after the crash, and was in possession of methamphetamine.
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A Lincoln County grand jury indicted Shorey on Sept. 13 and a warrant was issued for his arrest, according to a news release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The next day, detectives from sheriff’s office and the Waterville Police Department arrested Shorey without incident at a Waterville residence.
He pleaded not guilty during a brief court appearance by video conference between the jail and the West Bath courthouse Sept. 17.
Just eight days before his indictment on the manslaughter charge, Shorey had pleaded guilty to operating a meth lab in Kennebec County. He was sentenced to three years with all but six months suspended, plus a year of probation.