A Maine man who struck four state troopers while driving in Hollis last August was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday.
Tyler Croston of Westbrook pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated assault and one count of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon in York County Superior Court, according to the district attorney’s office.
On Aug. 28. 2023, then 24-year-old Croston drove a 2017 Subaru WRX into troopers Jake Mowry, David Lemieux and Dakota Stewart, and trooper recruit Shane St. Pierre in a breakdown lane on Route 202. The troopers were responding to a family disturbance near the intersection with Star Lane.
Mowry, who had surgery for leg fractures, and Stewart, who had several broken bones in his right foot, have been cleared for full duty, Shannon Moss, spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, said in an emailed statement Tuesday. Moss said Lemieux, who was being treated for leg fractures, and St. Pierre, who also had to have surgery, are “still recovering from their injuries.”
Moss said their injuries resulted in a total of six surgeries and a total of 36 months out of work so far.
“We’re certainly happy that they’re all working toward full recoveries but incidents like this should serve as examples for the dangers of Operating Under the Influence,” Moss said in the statement.
At a news conference after the crash, York County Chief Deputy Jeremy Forbes said it was possible that Croston was using marijuana at the time of the crash. York County Sheriff William King said there was “sufficient evidence” to charge him with operating while impaired.
But that charge was dropped as part of a plea agreement, along with charges for driving to endanger and violating bail conditions, Deputy District Attorney Justina McGettigan confirmed Tuesday.
Croston was also sentenced to three years of probation. If he breaks those conditions, he will have to serve the full five-year sentence.
Prosecutors had asked the judge to give him a 10-year sentence with five years suspended.
Croston’s defense attorney Stephen Shea declined to talk about the sentencing Tuesday, but McGettigan said the defense asked for a five-year sentence with all but one year suspended.
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