The family of Tyler Shaw put up an electronic sign on Logging Hill Road at the site where 20-year-old Shaw was killed in a drunken-driving accident in 2018, days before a sentencing hearing for the man who pleaded guilty for causing his death.
The sign, provided to the family by a Bow resident, questions a plea deal and the amount of prison time proposed for driver Joseph Leonard, 37, of Derry.
“3 DWI, 1 FATAL, 5 YR PLEA?” it reads, then changes its message.
“IS THAT JUSTICE 4 TYLER?”
Once more it switches.
“FINAL HEARING 10/4 AT 1 P.M.”
Leonard pleaded guilty on Sept. 19 in Merrimack County Superior Court to felony charges of negligent homicide and aggravated driving while intoxicated in connection with Shaw’s death and faces years in prison.
Assistant County Attorney Carley Ahern said she will recommend a sentence of five to 10 years on the negligent homicide charge and a concurrent sentence of 3½ to seven years on the aggravated DWI charge.
Tyler’s mom, Beth Shaw, said a five-year prison sentence has been agreed to by attorneys. However, she doesn’t think the deal is fair given Leonard’s history of drunken driving.
The crash that killed Shaw off Interstate 89 in Bow on April, 30, 2018 marked the third time that police had arrested Leonard for drunken driving. Leonard was first arrested as a teenager. And just eight years ago, his impairment caused an accident in which he was injured.
“We do not support the plea deal. For a third DWI conviction, resulting in Tyler’s death, it is incomprehensible how Leonard can be sentenced to anything less than the maximum sentence defined by the Legislature,” Shaw said.
“If Leonard doesn’t deserve the maximum sentence based on his demonstrated commitment to drinking and driving, who does?” she added. The crime of negligent homicide typically carries a 7 ½- to 15-year prison sentence.
Shaw said Andy Foote, a member of the New Hampshire National Guard whom she grew up with in Bow, approached her about putting up a sign at the site of the crash after Leonard’s last hearing.
“People are outraged,” Shaw said while referencing the plea deal.
“The fact that it was 18 months before they put handcuffs on him isn’t right,” Foote said. “I think what Beth has done is amazing in terms of advocating for Tyler and I wanted to do what I could to help.”
Leonard is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in Merrimack County Superior Court.