Man gets 18 months for fatal wreck

An Annapolis man who was drunk, high and speeding in 2007 when he smashed into a sign pole on West Street and killed his live-in boyfriend was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in jail.

Timothy Lee Jones, 28, of Heritage Court was led from a county courtroom in handcuffs after hearing his sentence. He pleaded guilty in November to automobile manslaughter in the Nov. 9, 2007, wreck that killed Delonte Marvin Brooks, 22.

"I can't cure or fix or take away the pain on either side," said Circuit Court Judge William C. Mulford II, acknowledging that both Jones' and Mr. Brooks' families were hurting.

He sentenced Jones to five years in prison, but suspended all but 18 months to be served in jail.

Marvin Brooks, Delonte Brooks' father, said outside the courtroom that Judge Mulford was too lenient on Jones.

"I don't think it was enough," he said. "That is way less than I expected."

He said he wanted the judge to sentence Jones to at least two years in state prison.

Deputy State's Attorney William Roessler argued in court for Mr. Jones to receive more time behind bars, but he said later he understood the judge's rationale behind the final sentence.

Kristin Fleckenstein, spokesman for the State's Attorney's Office, said, "The judge wanted to clearly fashion a sentence that would not only punish Mr. Jones, but also help him deal with his drug problem."

Upon Jones' release from jail, he will be placed on supervised probation for five years. Mrs. Fleckenstein said the judge placed detailed restrictions on Jones in an effort to make sure he doesn't drink and drive again.

"Judge Mulford wanted him to know he does not get a second chance to mess up," Mrs. Fleckenstein said.

The 18-month sentence falls in the middle range of those handed down in the county for automobile manslaughter. In the past couple years, judges have handed down sentences ranging from five years to nine months in similar cases, but most sentences have fallen between 12 and 18 months.

Yesterday Jones apologized to Mr. Brooks' family.

"I would never ever do anything to hurt him. I'm just so sorry," he said. "I loved him with everything."

But Mr. Roessler noted how, shortly after the wreck, Jones had a 0.25 blood-alcohol content, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08. A separate blood sample also tested positive for marijuana, he said.

Mr. Roessler added that while police cannot say how fast Jones was driving, a witness told detectives he was "going like 100 mph."

"This was such an irresponsible action," he said.

Several of Jones' family members and friends asked the court for leniency. They described Mr. Brooks as "family." Jones' older brother said his children called Mr. Brooks their "uncle" and Jones' aunt referred to him in court as her "grandson."

But Marvin Brooks, Delonte Brooks' father, said he and the rest of his family did not know Jones that well.

"I just knew Timothy briefly," he said. "We never spent that much time with him."

Mr. Roessler said Jones was driving a 2003 BMW east on West Street at about 1:20 a.m. when he clipped a white Chevrolet Tahoe heading into the city.

He said the BMW jumped the curb, hit a utility pole and then started spinning. The passenger side of the BMW smashed into the sign for the Sun and Earth Health Food store. The impact of the wreck tore a hole in the floor of the vehicle, through which Mr. Brooks was ejected. Mr. Brooks' body was trapped under the vehicle for several hours.

Mr. Roessler said there was 215 feet between where Jones clipped the SUV and hit the sign.

The driver of the Tahoe was not injured in the wreck. Jones was flown by helicopter to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore where he was eventually treated and released.

Yatisha Thomas, Mr. Brooks' cousin, acknowledged that accidents happen, but she said that was not an excuse in this case.

"It was an accident that could have been avoided," she said.

Ms. Thomas recalled how her cousin and best friend always put others first. She said he was a radiology technician who was studying to become a registered nurse.

"He will always be in our hearts," she said.