Sharon man pleads in vehicular homicide case

WARREN — A Sharon, Pa., man has agreed to spend four years in prison for driving drunk on Aug. 19, 2006, on state Route 82 in Brookfield, wrecking his vehicle and killing a passenger.

Lionel G. Stinson Jr., 22, of Sherman Avenue, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in Judge W. Wyatt McKay’s courtroom in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. His plea agreement also calls for a five-year license suspension. The state will not oppose his release from prison after one year. The plea also says Stinson will pay $800 to $1,000 for the headstone for his victim, Kellen D. Newby, 21, of Hermitage.

Newby was ejected from the rear seat of the vehicle in the accident. Another passenger in the car suffered non life-threatening injuries.

A Breathalyzer test done after the accident showed that Stinson’s blood-alcohol level was over the legal limit of 0.08, the police said.