OSWEGO, NY – The man charged in a fatal boating accident last summer was sentenced this morning in Oswego County Court.
Brad Bouthillier, 22, of Cicero, was sentenced to the maximum 1 1/3 to 4 years on charges of criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal navigation accident.
In February, Bouthillier pled guilty to both charges, both are felonies.
Bouthillier was partying with friends on Oneida Lake last August.
According to court documents, he was kissing a woman sitting on his lap, with one hand on her leg and the other on the boat’s wheel, moments before the collision.
Another woman began to scream; but, Bouthillier didn’t have time to avoid the other boat.
An 85-year-old fisherman, John Kowalewski, died as a result of the crash.
Bouthillier then fled the scene without getting help for Kowalewski, police said.
Kowalewski’s body was found inside his drifting boat by another boater approximately two hours later.
In court today, Bouthillier apologized to the victim’s family.
Kowalewski’s son said he’d likely accept the apology – in a while.
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