HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — An Athens man previously indicted for reckless murder and assault in a deadly 2021 wreck has been sentenced to prison.
Jacob Stephens pleaded guilty to two reckless murder charges and two counts of first-degree assault on Monday. He was previously charged in a deadly 2021 three-vehicle wreck on I-565.
In the wreck, the Huntsville Police Department confirmed two people were killed: 47-year-old Arlene Veronica Velasquez and 24-year-old Hannah Parton. HPD also said five others were injured. Those injured were treated at the hospital and released.
A spokesperson with HPD said investigators believe the crash was the result of someone going westbound in the eastbound lanes.
Stephens was arrested on October 5, 2022, for his role in the wreck.
He was first charged with two counts of reckless murder, two counts of first-degree assault – DUI and one count of reckless endangerment.
Madison County officials said they could finally arrest Stephens after they became aware of an incident in Lauderdale County.
According to the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, Stephens was arrested by Florence Police for carrying a pistol without a permit, public intoxication, second-degree marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On May 19, 2023, Stephens was indicted by a Madison County Grand Jury on the reckless murder and assault charges, but he was not indicted on the reckless endangerment charge.
After signing the plea agreement at his jury trial on June 23, Stephens was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the reckless murder charges (30 years for each count) and 40 years for first-degree assault (20 years for each count). The sentences are to be served concurrently.
The post I-565 wrong-way driver pleads guilty to reckless murder, assault charges for deadly 2021 wreck appeared first on WHNT.
