Driver gets 10 years for fatal 2006 crash
Larry and Nona Adams hold hands as they walk away from court Friday after attending the sentencing of Steffanie Ann Schauf, who was convicted of negligent homicide for the death of their son, Brett Adams. “This is closure for everyone,” Nona Adams said. Garrett Cheen/Daily Inter Lake
Schauf apologizes to victim's family
In a display of emotion rarely seen during her trial, Steffanie Ann Schauf shook with sobs Friday as District Court Judge Stewart E. Stadler sentenced her to 10 years in prison for her role in a 2006 drunken-driving crash that killed one man and injured two others.
"There is absolutely no doubt that on that evening you were driving impaired by alcohol," Stadler said from the bench.
Stadler acknowledged that the crash was a tragedy for all involved, and said that handing down the sentence gave him no pleasure.
"But I think it's something that's required," he said. "There's no greater harm than taking a person's life."
A jury in April found Schauf, 27, guilty of negligent homicide, negligent vehicular assault, and criminal endangerment.
On Friday, Stadler adopted the sentence recommended by prosecutors, ordering Schauf to serve 20 years in prison - with 10 years suspended - on the negligent homicide conviction, 10 years in prison - all suspended - on the negligent vehicular assault conviction, and 10 years in prison - again, all suspended - on the criminal endangerment conviction. The sentences will run concurrently.
Defense attorney George Best asked Stadler to consider a minimum probationary sentence.
"Our recommendation is that nothing will be served by a long prison term," said Best, adding that Schauf was genuinely remorseful.
Schauf was taken into the custody of the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, but a hearing will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to determine whether she will be released on bond pending her appeal.
For Schauf to be released, Best will have to show the court that she is no danger to society, Stadler said.
Stadler heard testimony Friday both from Schauf's friends and family, as well as the friends and family of 24-year-old Brett Adams, the man killed in the crash.
"His life was taken, and I don't know how to comfort myself with that," said Brett's mother, Nona Adams, who stopped to give Schauf a long, penetrating look as she took the stand. "On that day when you turned the key to your car … you became a murderer."
Also testifying were Brett Adams' sister, Gloria Ferrari, and Savannah Hill, another passenger in the car that Schauf rear-ended.
"I want to see you pay for the crime you have committed," Hill read from a prepared statement.
Later in the hearing, Schauf took the stand to ask Stadler for leniency and to address Brett Adams' family.
"I can't imagine what your going through," she said. "I'm so sorry I was involved in that accident."
Schauf's stepmother, Patricia Schauf, told the court that her family - like Brett Adams' family - has been irreversibly affected by the crash.
"We're a community that has all been affected," she said.
Schauf broke into tears as her father, Steven Schauf, expressed his sorrow to the family of Brett Adams for their loss.
Also testifying on Schauf's behalf were her former boss, Walter Nickerson; family friends, Judy Adams and George "Tom" C. Adams; and her future father-in-law, Jack Breshka.
Prosecutors tried Schauf on the charge of vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol, but the jury found her guilty of the lesser-included crime of negligent homicide, in addition to negligent vehicular assault and criminal endangerment.
The jury of six men and six women heard testimony from eyewitnesses, accident-reconstruction experts, medical experts, and Schauf herself during the trial, which started March 21.
Jurors, who deliberated for two days before announcing a verdict April 2, considered conflicting testimony about how much Schauf had to drink that night, whether Schauf's combative behavior after the crash was due to drunkenness or a head injury, and whether the pickup put on its brakes before she rammed into it.
According to testimony, Schauf was driving southbound on U.S. 93 in her blue Mazda Miata at about 1:30 a.m. July 1, 2006. As she neared the Happy Valley area, her car slammed into the back of a Dodge pickup driven by Christopher Gray.
The impact sent the truck rolling down an embankment, ejecting Adams, who later died from severe brain injuries. Gray and Hill, the second passenger, were treated for serious injuries.
Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com