(New London, CT) – Paul J. Narducci, State’s Attorney for the New London Judicial District, announced that the Honorable Jassette A. Henry today sentenced James Pont, age 63, of Ashaway, R.I., to three years in prison, suspended after 13 months to serve with three years of probation, for causing a fatal motor vehicle crash in North Stonington in 2021.
A Superior Court jury in New London on February 26, 2025 found Pont guilty of Negligent Homicide with a Motor Vehicle, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-222a. Evidence from the trial showed that the defendant, while in a motor vehicle at 3:26 p.m. on January 18, 2021, crossed the double yellow center line on Pendleton Hill Road in North Stonington and collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Ryan Poland, age 39, of North Providence, R.I. Poland died from injuries sustained in the crash. Pont was seriously injured.
Pont was arrested following an investigation by the Connecticut State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad (C.A.R.S.) and Connecticut State Police Troop E.
The New London State’s Attorney’s Office would like to thank C.A.R.S. and Connecticut State Police Troop E for their work in this case. The New London State’s Attorney’s Office hopes that this disposition brings some comfort to the family of Mr. Poland.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State's Attorney Alexandra N. Aksterowicz, with assistance from Inspector Matthew T. Suplee.