Common Pleas Judge J. Timothy Campbell sentenced Shumway to five years community control, to pay restitution of $131,017.33 for medical bills, a 10-year suspension of his driver’s license, and that Shumway must wear an alcohol-monitoring bracelet. The plea agreement was for a third-degree felony.
Shumway, of Xenia, trembled and nodded his head as Campbell told him to someday read the letters that Dillon’s mother, Carla, wrote to the judge about what losing her son has been like.
Holding a framed picture of her son and photos from the funeral in front of the court, Carla Dillon said, “This is my baby. He did everything for me and for everybody. He never hurt anyone. He gave Sam a place to live. He gave him a home. He gave him furniture. He gave him food.”
Shumway, whom his lawyer Don Little said suffered a broken neck in the crash, repeatedly apologized.
“He was a very good friend of mine, and he was like a brother to me,” he said. “We moved in together into that apartment. I am very sorry to his whole family and everyone in my family. I have never blamed anyone for anything but myself. I was the one driving that vehicle, and I am very sorry.”
At 2:10 a.m. Feb. 28, 2009, Shumway’s Monte Carlo failed to stop at a red light at Trebein Road and drove into the path of two other vehicles.
Dillon, of Jamestown, a passenger of Shumway’s, was ejected. He was taken by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital, where he died.
Police reports said neither Shumway nor Dillon wore seat belts, and Shumway tested positive for alcohol and marijuana.
Greene County Assistant Prosecutor Adolfo Tornichio said the blood-alcohol level was below Ohio’s legal level, and it was not proven that the marijuana — which stays in the body for 30 to 60 days — was ingested in that time frame or had any effect.
“It’s like playing a game of Russian roulette,” Tornichio said moments after Shumway was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs. “Except this time when he blew the red light, unfortunately, a life was taken from the Dillon family.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-6951 or mgokavi@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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