8/28/08
A 51 year-old Gloucester man found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and unlawful wounding
Kim Robbins
A 51 year-old Gloucester man was found guilty Tuesday of involuntary manslaughter and unlawful wounding in connection with a Feb. 16 vehicle accident that resulted in the death of one man and injured another.
Keith L. McGowan of Gloucester was traveling westbound on Hickory Fork Road in a Toyota Tacoma when he crossed the center line and hit an eastbound Honda Civic head on, according to a state police report. The driver of the Honda, 29 year-old Daniel Klapperich of Newport News, was pronounced dead after being transported to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital. His passenger, 27 year-old Jason Fox, survived the crash but was seriously injured. McGowan was not injured in the accident.
When asked for his pleas in Gloucester Circuit Court on Monday, McGowan responded “no plea” to each of the two charges against him. Judge William H. Shaw found McGowan guilty of both charges.
McGowan was indicted by a grand jury in July on charges of driving under the influence, driving with a suspended or revoked license, DUI related maiming, involuntary manslaughter and DUI related involuntary manslaughter. The DUI, driving suspended and DUI related involuntary manslaughter charges were dropped and the maiming charge was amended to unlawful wounding as part of a plea agreement entered Monday.
Gloucester Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Brian Decker said McGowan’s blood alcohol content following the crash measured .07, just below the .08 threshold for driving under the influence in Virginia. McGowan’s attorney, Devin Hensley of Gloucester, made it clear that his client was not pleading guilty “to any charge that includes in its proof evidence of driving under the influence”. Sentencing for McGowan was set for Nov. 10. He faces up to 10 years in prison for the involuntary manslaughter conviction and five years for unlawful wounding.GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS GAZETTE JOURNAL