My Birthday and stuff

My birthday was yesterday and it was nice. Shannon got me ANOTHER gift, an electronic vocal trainer for your computer that helps you sing better. For those who have heard me sing, you know I need it. I love my wife so much. She rocks!

Yesterday was also Mom Varden’s birthday which makes it a bittersweet day for our home, but she gets to celebrate her 58th birthday in Heaven.

At the end of March, Joshua Shepard was sentence for killing of Mom and Dad Varden and Claudia Huffman. The press release with details on his sentencing is below.

Joshua Shepard sentenced to state prison for killing three vacationers

 

Grafton County Attorney Rick St. Hilaire announced today that Joshua Shepard of Thornton, NH was sentenced by Judge James D. O’Neill III of Grafton County Superior Court to state for a period of three to twelve years.  The court also ordered Shepard to pay restitution in the amount of approximately $126,000 and revoked his driver’s license for a period of 21 years.

A jury convicted Shepard in November 2007 of three counts of negligent homicide.  Shepard killed three motorcyclists in Thornton, NH during the 2006 Motorcycle Week when he crossed the solid double yellow line on Route 49 and crashed into two men and two women, killing three of the four.  An eyewitness saw Shepard driving in the wrong lane when he struck the motorcycle riders.  The jury also found Shepard guilty of misdemeanor vehicular assault for causing injury to the motorcyclist who survived the crash.

“We remain especially saddened by the deaths of three visitors to our state because a driver failed to stay in his own lane, “ St. Hilaire remarked.  The sentence handed down by the court shows that there are significant consequences when a motorist commits negligent homicide.  The law makes sure that all of us can drive to pick up our kids, get to work, or take a Sunday drive without the threat of being injured or killed by an oncoming driver.”

Assistant County Attorney James Vara explained that Shepard’s prior history should be considered by the court when sentencing.  Vara told the court that Shepard had been declared an habitual motor vehicle offender in March 2004 by the NH Division of Motor Vehicles.  Approximately six months after Shepard got his license back in December 2005, Shepard crashed into the four motorcyclists on June 11, 2006.  Vara informed the sentencing judge that Shepard’s motor vehicle record included prior accidents and convictions for reckless operation and leaving the scene of an accident.

NH State Police Troop F investigated the case, and Victims Inc. provided additional support.