Press Releases
11/21/2023
New Haven Man Sentenced to Prison For Charges Related to Fatal 2021 Crash in Roxbury
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Litchfield, CT) – David R. Shannon, State’s Attorney for the Litchfield Judicial District, announced that William Young, age 39, of New Haven, was sentenced today by the Honorable Chris Pelosi to 15 years in prison, suspended after eight years to serve and five years of probation, for his role in a May 2021 motor vehicle crash that killed James McNitt, age 62, and severely injured his son, Clayton McNitt, then age 34, both of Colorado.
Young pleaded guilty on June 29, 2023 in Litchfield Superior Court to charges of Manslaughter in the Second Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-56b, Assault in the Second Degree with a Motor Vehicle in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-60d and Operating Under the Influence in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-227a in connection with the crash. Young also pleaded guilty on that date to a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 21a-279(a)(1)(A) in a case that was not related to the crash.
According to court records, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on May 21, 2021 following a head-on collision in Roxbury. An investigation showed the defendant was under the influence of fentanyl, methadone, norfentanyl, Xanax, cocaine and other drugs when he crossed the double yellow lines while driving on Southbury Road and struck the victim’s car head on.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Terri Sonnemann prosecuted the case, with assistance from Inspector Mark Puglielli and Paralegal Specialist Melissa Brewer.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Sonnemann would like to extend her condolences to the McNitt family and compliment them on the incredibly gracious approach that they took to the case, and extend her gratitude to Attorney Patrick Heeran, who appeared on behalf of the entire McNitt family. Attorney Heeran read victim-impact statements in court during the sentencing hearing. “They were very eloquent, and expressed forgiveness for the defendant and a desire that he find sobriety and do something productive with his life,” Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Sonnemann said.
The State Police CARS unit investigation and the assistance of Sgt. Mark DiCocco were a critical part of the prosecution.