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Driver gets 16 years in deaths of 3 recruits; families speak out
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Williams
By Elise Franco
Warren
Donald P. Williams Jr. will spend 16 years in prison for the 2010 deaths of three Marine recruits, but that’s not enough to address the loss, a judge and family members say.
Williams was sentenced Wednesday by Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. Judge Logan said that the sentence is nothing compared to what the victims’ families have to live with.
“There’s nothing this court can do to adequately address this loss,” Judge Logan said. “Mr. Williams, you might think this is a serious sentence, but it’s not nearly as serious as the life sentence for the families involved.”
On March 31, 2010, Williams, 46, of Bainbridge Avenue in Austintown, crashed the semitrailer he drove for Nick Strimbu Inc. into the back of a car containing four Marine recruits and a recruiter, killing three of the recruits. The crash was on the state Route 5 Bypass at Burnett Street west of Warren.
Zachary A. Nolen, 19, of Mineral Ridge and Newton Falls; Joshua A. Sherbourne, 21, of Southington; and Michael T. Theodore Jr., 19, of Howland died.
Williams, who was found to have Valium and Nordiazepam in his system at the time of the crash, apologized for his actions.
“I’m sorry for creating all this mayhem,” he said. “I would relive that day over again if it were possible, but it’s not possible.”
Parents and family members of the Marine recruits also addressed the judge before sentencing.
John Nolen said his son’s life and his dream of becoming a Marine was cut short because of one man’s decision. John Nolen said his son’s 10-year-old sister struggles daily to deal with the loss.
“The reckless behavior of Mr. Williams has ensured Zachary will not fulfill his dreams,” he said. “His younger sister asked how much it would cost for a ticket to visit Zach.”
Jill Sherbourne said she and her son had just begun repairing a damaged relationship when he was killed.
“Since Josh’s father and I divorced Josh didn’t feel as close to me, but we were fixing that,” she said. “We talked a lot in the weeks before he died, and he told me he loved me all the time. Donald Williams took that away from me.”
Laureen and Michael Theodore told the court how much their lives had changed since their son’s death.
“I’ll never get to have our talks or see that big smile that always brightened my day,” Laureen Theodore said. “There will always be a part of us missing. … It hurts my heart to know the pain of my family and Michael’s fiance.”
Michael Theodore said after the sentencing that they’re “thankful it’s over with and the healing process now begins.”
Williams was sentenced to five years on each of three aggravated vehicular homicide convictions, served consecutively. He was sentenced to one year on each of seven other counts to be served consecutively to the first 15 years but concurrent with one another, totaling 16 years. Those convictions are three counts of aggravated vehicular assault, three counts of vehicular assault and one count of drug possession.