Man gets 6 years for driving drunk, killing woman; apologizes to family

ELLSWORTH – Sean M. George, a Lamoine resident who has spent the past year speaking out about the dangers of driving while drunk, apologized Friday for the crash that killed a 19-year-old Mount Desert woman, left her boyfriend trapped in a burning car and caused another man to suffer permanent brain injury.

During an emotional two-hour hearing in Hancock County Superior Court, George, 28, a former counselor for mentally disabled children, pleaded guilty to felony charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault and aggravated operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants.

Justice Jeffrey L. Hjelm ordered him to serve six years of a 12-year prison sentence with the state Department of Corrections in connection with the fatal crash on April 2, 2004, on U.S. Route 1A in Dedham.

Bethany Edmondson was killed instantly. Her boyfriend, Steven Roberson of Orrington, broke his pelvis. George’s best friend, Joel Fougere, suffered a permanent brain injury.

Before the judge sentenced him, George, who wore a tan suit and a yellow “Live Strong” bracelet on his right wrist, delivered a poignant apology to the victim’s family.

“I understand what it is to lose someone you love,” he said. “I’m sorry I’ve taken Bethany from you. I was stupid, ignorant and arrogant.”

George said he had been drinking in bars in Bangor with Fougere before driving his pickup truck home toward Lamoine. When he reached a passing lane in Dedham, he passed the vehicle in front of him, crossed the centerline and hit an oncoming car.

Roberson, the driver of the oncoming car, was trapped inside the burning vehicle and pulled to safety by passers-by.

Fougere was thrown from the truck. George’s blood alcohol level at the time was 0.12 percent, Hancock County Deputy District Attorney Carletta Bassano said in court. The legal limit in Maine is 0.08 percent.

On Friday, his mother, friends and neighbors wept, held hands and asked the judge for leniency for George, whom they characterized as “solid,” “peaceful” and “giving.”

His attorney, Robert Granger, said George has kept a picture of Edmondson since the crash and has spoken regularly to sororities and other groups at the University of Maine about the dangers of driving while drunk.

His client is “trying to make something good of something absolutely tragic,” he said.

A victim’s advocate also read written statements from Edmondson’s parents and grandmother, who were not in court Friday. Her grandfather was present but did not speak publicly.

Hjelm, who appeared moved by the families’ sentiments, called George “a fundamentally decent person” who will “bear the emotional scars of his conduct.”

Upon his release from prison, George will be placed on probation for six years. He will be required to refrain from drinking alcohol, must submit to random blood tests and seek alcohol counseling. He also must surrender his driver’s license for six years and pay a $2,000 fine.

The judge also ordered George to pay $15,925 restitution to the victims and their family members and to perform 300 hours of community service by continuing to speak out against alcohol abuse.