In a drunk driving case involving fatalities DA Warren Montgomery reports that 40 YO Justin Emerson Martindale of Slidell pled guilty just prior to the scheduled start of his trial and was sentenced shortly afterwards.
Martindale was sentenced by District Judge Ellen Creel to 15 years for each vehicular homicide to run consecutively, and 5 years at hard labor for each first-degree negligent injury, to be run concurrent with the first two charges, for a total of 30 years in prison. The sentences will be served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.
On Tuesday, February 18th, 2020, Louisiana State Police responded to a 3-vehicle crash with injuries, on US 190 in Slidell.
While the trooper was speaking with Martindale at the scene he detected an odor of an alcohol. When asked about his consumption of alcohol, the defendant stated that he had consumed a large amount of alcohol the previous night only.
Five persons were injured and transported to the hospital. One passenger was pronounced deceased about two hours after the accident. Another rear seat passenger succumbed to her injuries three days later. Two other victims required surgery.
The investigation showed that Martindale caused the accident.
While the defendant was being treated for his injuries at the hospital, he was read his Miranda Rights and submitted to a blood draw. The results showed him at .160g% BAC, twice the presumptive level of impairment. He was later arrested and charged.
The surviving victims and some of the deceased victims’ families were present in court for the plea and supported the terms of the plea.
