Driver gets probation, loses license for 15 years after pleading guilty to killing cyclist in Northampton

NORTHAMPTON — The motive force charged with hitting and killing metropolis musician Charlie Braun final 12 months as he rode his bike close to Northampton Excessive College will serve probation, carry out 200 hours of neighborhood service and lose her proper to drive for 15 years after she pleaded responsible Wednesday to motorcar murder.

Haley Kelly-Sherette, 24, of Williamsburg, accepted a plea deal throughout a day listening to in Northampton District Court docket. Extra civil costs of failing to cease for a cease signal and use of an digital machine whereas driving have been dismissed as a situation of the deal.

Decide Jennifer Tyne sentenced Kelly-Sherette to at least one 12 months in jail, which will probably be suspended as she serves three years of probation. Failure to abide by the circumstances of probation, prosecutors mentioned, would end in jail time.

In keeping with an announcement from prosecutors within the wake of the Oct. 6 crash, Kelly-Sherette “was driving south on Woodlawn (Avenue) when she engaged in a 53-second Facetime dialog with a buddy” on her cellphone and was additional distracted by her younger little one within the again seat.

Assistant Northwestern District Legal professional Andrew Covington mentioned in courtroom Wednesday that Kelly-Sherette was driving her 2018 Hyundai Elantra in clear, sunny climate when she ran the cease signal at Woodlawn and Elm. She acknowledged in an interview with investigators that she glanced at her telephone at that actual second, Covington mentioned.

The crash knocked Braun, 69, into the street, the place the automotive ran over him. Kelly-Sherette stopped and known as 911. Braun was pronounced lifeless half an hour later at Cooley Dickinson Hospital and his reason behind loss of life was decided to be a number of blunt drive accidents, Covington mentioned.

A Northampton Excessive College safety digital camera captured the 4:13 p.m. crash on video.

Covington mentioned that Kelly-Sherette consented to a direct search of her telephone and a roadside alcohol breath check, which registered a studying of .028, nicely under the authorized restrict for driving whereas intoxicated. He mentioned there was “no proof” of impairment and described Kelly-Sherette as “cooperative with investigators” ever because the crash.

She has no prior felony file and just one verbal warning for rushing.

However, Covington mentioned, the presence of empty Fireball whiskey bottles within the automotive initiated an investigation by the state Division of Youngsters and Households. Kelly-Sherette is now in a substance abuse therapy program beneficial by DCF and should stay free of medicine, alcohol and non-prescription marijuana throughout her probation. She additionally should undergo random screenings.

“This settlement is suitable to all events,” Covington informed the courtroom, including that there’s a particular situation insisted upon by Braun’s household. Though her jail sentence is suspended, Kelly-Sherette will probably be required to “go to” the Hampshire County Jail and Home of Correction, he mentioned.

She should additionally endure remedy, take a secure driving course and full a parenting class, Covington mentioned.

Protection legal professional John Drake mentioned Kelly-Sherette took full duty for the crash from the start and, someday, want to converse with the household as an try at restorative justice, in the event that they agree.

Drake mentioned Kelly-Sherette was working as a licensed nursing assistant on the time of the crash and her employer suspended her in consequence. Since she was not fired, she doesn’t qualify for unemployment and has obtained no revenue for greater than eight months.

On Friday, she’s going to graduate from Greenfield Group Faculty’s sensible nursing program, however she won’t be able to get a nursing license till one 12 months after her probation ends in 2025.

Sufferer influence statements

Braun’s daughters, Cedar Onchi and Jemma Siperstein, gave emotional sufferer influence statements earlier than Tyne authorised the plea deal. As they spoke, Tyne might be seen wiping away tears with a tissue.

“My dad was one in all my finest mates,” Onchi mentioned. “He was at all times there to hear and to provide recommendation. He cherished his household and mates unconditionally.”

She mentioned that Braun, a celebrated guitarist and music instructor who lived in Northampton for greater than a decade, cherished to bake and journey to new locations. Not solely will Braun miss a lifetime of household milestones like graduations and weddings, she mentioned, however she’s going to miss even the mundane moments of day-to-day life together with her dad.

“I can’t let anger be my gasoline,” she mentioned, pledging to not increase her daughter in concern of tragedy. Quoting the only bumper sticker on Braun’s car, she added, “The true revolution will probably be love.”

Siperstein mirrored on the various instances her father got here to her home early within the morning to look at her daughter whereas she “labored 12-hour shifts on the hospital,” and the instances when he introduced her miso soup in her faculty dorm room.

Like Onchi, she mourned the lack of her father’s highly effective hugs.

“I had an incredible dad and I’m so grateful for that,” Siperstein mentioned. “I nonetheless can’t actually consider that he’s gone. … I might give completely something to have the ability to hug him once more.”

Tyne mentioned the courtroom obtained 18 sufferer influence statements in writing and she or he was happy that Kelly-Sherette mentioned she learn all of them. Drake, the protection legal professional, mentioned Kelly-Sherette has additionally seen “medical information and hospital photos.”

“It’s terrifying how a life so full could be ended so shortly with such carelessness,” Tyne mentioned. “The influence of Charlie Braun’s loss of life will reverberate by the lives of everybody who cherished him, perpetually.”

Laws often called “Charlie’s Regulation,” proposed by state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, would ban drivers from recording or broadcasting video behind the wheel in Massachusetts. The invoice was despatched to the Joint Committee on Transportation for evaluation.

Brian Steele could be reached at bsteele@gazettenet.com.