Harrington man sentenced in crash that killed wife

MACHIAS – A 30-year-old Harrington man was sentenced Monday in Washington County Superior Court in connection with the death of his wife who was killed when the car he was driving rolled over and she was thrown from the vehicle.

Scott Strout pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants involving injury and death, and was sentenced by Justice E. Allen Hunter to 364 days in jail with all but six months suspended and one year of probation.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless conduct and was sentenced to a consecutive nine months in jail, all suspended, and one year probation.

The probation conditions included not possessing or using intoxicants; submitting to search and testing by law enforcement; and not driving a vehicle without a license. He also was ordered to pay a $750 fine.

In July 2004, Lindsay Strout, 23, was killed when the car Scott Strout was driving rolled over on the Marshville Road in Harrington. The couple lived on that road.

Lindsay Strout, Scott Strout’s wife and the mother of a 1-month-old and a 2-year-old at the time, was ejected from the speeding car and died instantly, according to a Bangor Daily News story. Two other passengers also were injured in the crash.

At the time, police determined that alcohol was a factor in the crash.

After the accident, Scott Strout was charged with manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of reckless conduct, and one count of criminal operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants in connection with the death of his wife.

Those charges later were changed to one count of felony operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants involving injury and death and one count of reckless conduct.

After months of negotiations, Strout’s attorney, Marvin Glazier of Bangor, reached a plea agreement with Deputy District Attorney Carletta Bassano of Ellsworth, and on Monday Strout entered a guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants involving injury and death. He also pleaded guilty to the charge of reckless conduct.

Bassano told the judge that an agreement had been reached between her office and Glazier because of “substantial proof problems” in the case. She did not elaborate.

Glazier said the compromise was in the best interest of the families.

Neither Strout nor Lindsay Strout’s parents, who were in the courtroom, addressed the court.

During sentencing, the judge noted that plea bargains were a necessary part of the criminal justice system. He said it was not a reflection of the true measure of loss that occurred.

After he was sentenced Monday, Strout was escorted from the courtroom and taken directly to the Washington County jail where he was to begin his sentence.

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