MIDDLETOWN, CT — Kerry Sheltra accepted a plea deal on Monday at Middletown Superior Court for a crash that resulted in the death of 60-year-old Wayne Hamler.
Sheltra's wife and son were also injured in the incident. He received a three-year suspended sentence, with 90 days in jail and subsequent probation.
“It's a sad ending to a very tragic case,” said Sheltra's defense attorney, who declined additional comments until sentencing.
Following the accident, Hamler's brother, Paul Hamler Jr., expressed disappointment with the sentence, stating, “He was a good father, a good uncle, a good friend, and would have made a great grandfather.”
Judge Julia Dewey noted that Sheltra faced a potential 10-year prison term but attributed the lighter sentence to procedural issues at Hartford Hospital. According to the prosecutor, law enforcement requested the preservation of Sheltra's blood for toxicology testing; however, the hospital either failed to conduct the test or the specimen was destroyed.
Hamler's family criticized the leniency of the sentence. “The sentencing could have been a little more stricter,” Paul Hamler Jr. remarked.
Sheltra left the courthouse with his attorney and is scheduled to return for sentencing on Jan. 21. NBC Connecticut reached out to Hartford HealthCare for comment but has not received a response.