TERRE HAUTE —
A Terre Haute man has been sentenced to in-home detention and probation for admitting guilt in the 2011 drunken driving death of his wife.
Wayne Compton, 46, received a 10-year sentence in Vigo Superior Court 5 through a plea agreement accepted by Judge Michael Rader. He had been charged with driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 percent or more causing death, a class-B felony.
The accident occurred in the early morning hours of Jan. 16 on North 16th Street near Carl Avenue.
Terre Haute Police reported that Compton was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Impala when it drove through a dead-end at a creek and slammed into the creek bank. Witnesses reportedly told police that the car was traveling at a high rate of speed when it crashed.
Compton was airlifted from the scene to an Indianapolis hospital. His BAC tested at 0.16 percent. His wife was pronounced dead at the scene.
Criminal charges were filed against Compton in February 2011 when he was released from the hospital, and Judge Rader ordered him placed on pre-trial home detention because of his injuries.
The plea agreement calls for Compton to serve four years of the sentence as a direct commitment to the home detention program of Vigo County Community Corrections. He was given credit for 532 days already served on home detention as of the Tuesday sentencing. Six years of the sentence will be suspended to two years served on formal probation, followed by four years on informal probation.
Compton must also perform 400 hours of community service, and must continue to attend mental health counseling, attend at least one alcohol or substance abuse recovery meeting each week, submit to drug or alcohol screens at his own expense, and remain gainfully employed. Compton’s driving privileges also will be suspended for five years, and once he receives probationary driving privileges, he must install and maintain an ignition interlock device on his vehicle for six months. His probationary driving period is for the last three years of his driving suspension, and he will be permitted to drive only for work, community service, medical and counseling appointments, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Sunday church services and to visit his wife’s grave.
Judge Rader said at Tuesday’s hearing that he spent a lot of time thinking about whether or not to accept the plea. He rejected the plea agreement at first.
“In this case, he killed his wife, and the children of this woman, who are not his biological children, but the children were present here in this courtroom and testified that they do not wish to see Mr. Compton go to prison,” Rader said, according to a transcript of the court proceedings. The judge later added that Compton has managed to work through his injuries and his wife’s death with her family, and that they are willing to forgive him.
Rader addressed Compton: “I am going to go ahead and accept this, and a large part of this, Mr. Compton, is because of the children of the woman you killed, have been willing to come in here and persuade me that you should not go to prison.”
Defense attorney Jessie Cook told the Tribune-Star that Compton and his late wife’s adult children have worked hard for reconciliation.
“Her children have been reasonable, compassionate and mature in their loss, and in trying to do what they think she would want,” Cook said.
She also noted that Compton has never denied his responsibility for his wife’s death.
“No one could be more remorseful than Mr. Compton has been,” she said.
Reporter Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @TribStarLisa.
News
Plea deal reached on 2011 drunken driving death case
- News
-
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” -
Boat trip aims to raise awareness about Lewy Body Dementia
In 2013, the Year of the River, it makes sense to link a grand adventure on the Wabash River with a good cause.
-
Legislature had little taste for alcohol bills
When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.
- More News Headlines
-
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Today in History May 22
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
