From the Office of the State’s Attorney of Harford County:
William Lee Skillman, 50, was sentenced to serve 13 years in the Division of Correction for charges arising from a hit and run accident on 30 July 2009 that killed 19 year-old Jarrett Vaughan. Skillman, who is serving a sentence for a violation of probation for his second drunk driving conviction, appeared today (30 September) before Judge Thomas Marshall in the Harford County Circuit Court for sentencing. Skillman was sentenced to the maximum five years for Homicide by Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence which will run consecutive to the sentence he is serving, he received three consecutive one year sentences for Driving without Insurance, Driving without an Ignition Interlock Device and Driving in Violation of an Alcohol Restriction. Finally Skillman was sentenced to serve five years with five more years suspended for Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Accident. After he serves his sentence Skillman will be on five years probation.
Harford County State’s Attorney Joe Cassilly prosecuted the case along with the family’s personal injury attorney and remarked during the sentencing hearing that not only did the defendant hit the young man as he walked on the shoulder of the road but Skillman left the scene and did not even have the decency to make an anonymous call to tell someone the victim was lying beside the road.
The case was investigated by the Aberdeen Police Department. “Corporal Anthony Burke did an exceptional job investigating this case,” said State’s Attorney Cassilly, “this witnesses he discovered were key to constructing the timeline that resulted in a guilty plea.”
I’m amazed he got such a light sentence, given the fact that it is his second offense! Should have gotten 20 years minimum!
casting stones? Maryland Case Search has quite the rap sheet on you. Rethink your self righteous tone.
This sentence is rediculous. He should have to spend about 30 behind bars.
I think you mean redonkulous
It is very sad that he only got 13 yrs,I know the this young man since he was a little boy,He took Jarrett’s (Garfield) life away from so many who loved him.
It is a real shame that so many lives have been ruined. I did not know the young man that was killed but, I do know the man whose been convicted of this crime. He is not a monster or even a bad person. He helped many people even those he didn’t know and was always there to throw in and help on community projects. The problem IMHO is alcohol.I will pray for the family who has had the loss of a loved one and pray for the one that stands convicted.
Why is everyone complaining about “only” 13 years? I’m surprised he got more than 2 years, the way they sentence people these days. Good job Aberdeen Police!!