Island Falls man sentenced in death

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HOULTON – An Island Falls man was sentenced Wednesday in Aroostook County Superior Court to four years in prison in connection with the death of a Merrill man in August 1999, when he was struck by a vehicle.

David C. Boone, 19, will serve two years of the sentence, after Justice Paul T. Pierson suspended two years, as recommended by District Attorney Neale Adams.

Boone also will be required to pay $7,474 in restitution to the family of the victim, Steven Caron, 19, as well as pay a $2,000 fine. Boone’s driver’s license will be suspended for six years, and he will be on probation for four years, during which time he will be required to attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Attorney Torrey Sylvester of Houlton, who represented Boone, had asked for a four-year sentence, with all but six moths suspended.

“If anyone has learned his lesson, I’d say David Boone has,” said Sylvester.

Boone already has spent more than five months in jail.

Members of Caron’s family who were present in the courtroom did not support the shorter sentence proposed by the defense attorney.

Though they did not address the court, Rebecca Miller, a state victim-witness advocate, told Pierson on the family’s behalf, “In two years, Steven is still going to be dead, and six months is not enough for the death of their son.”

According to investigators, Boone was driving east on Route 2 in Island Falls at about 4 a.m. Aug. 22, 1999, near the May Mountain Ski Area when he ran over Caron, 19, who was lying in the road.

It subsequently was determined that both Boone and Caron were intoxicated, with Boone having a blood alcohol level of 0.12 and Caron a level of 0.14.

The men, who reportedly had been schoolmates, had attended the same party, but at different times.

Investigators have been unable to determine why Caron was lying in the road.

Last August, Boone admitted to charges of aggravated operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants in which a death occurred, as well as charges of criminal operating while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, and leaving the scene of an accident.

In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of manslaughter.

The aggravated OUI charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum sentence for manslaughter is 20 years.

Boone, dressed in a brown sport jacket and black jeans, on Wednesday apologized to Caron’s family members for what had happened.

Before his sentencing, he also spoke to Pierson, referring to the time he had already spent in jail.

“It’s not the life I want to live,” he said quietly, his voice trembling. “It’s not the way I want to end up.

“I don’t want to put anyone else through any more pain,” he said.

Boone’s mother, Vicki, also apologized to the Caron family.

“We are all very sorry, and sorry doesn’t cover the loss you people feel,” she said.

Before sentencing, Pierson spoke to Boone about what happened.

“Steven Caron is no longer with us, and there’s nothing I can do and nothing you can do to reverse the consequences of your actions,” he said quietly. “Two years to serve is a very small price to pay for your actions.

“The real test of your convictions will be upon your release,” he continued. “Unless you change your behavior … you’ll be back in front of a judge.

“You will be the beneficiary of sobriety,” he said.

Pierson went on to note that had Boone not accepted responsibility for his actions, the sentence would have been much stiffer.

Boone also was sentenced on other charges related to or stemming from the accident: criminal operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, $500, seven days in jail; leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, six months in jail; operating after suspension of driver’s license, escape, and violation of conditions of release, 30 days in jail on each charge.

All jail sentences are to be served concurrently with the initial sentence for aggravated OUI.