William LeVea Denied Parole Again

The Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office announced this afternoon (Aug. 1) that the NYS Parole Board has again denied parole for William LeVea, who killed Christopher Spack in a violent DWI crash after chasing and ramming Spack’s truck many times on the evening of November 20, 2009.

The family of Chris Spack are relieved that the board once again denied parole to this violent killer, Assistant District Attorney Diane Adsit said.

“We are all grateful that the Parole Board has taken our concerns and those of Chris’ family and the public into consideration and is keeping this killer in prison,” she added.

LeVea had been denied a Medical Parole after a hearing in 2014 and in November 2015 he sought another Medical Parole hearing and was denied a hearing at that time by the board in Albany.

In July of 2015, he was denied parole at his first regularly scheduled parole hearing.

When he applied in July 2016 for another Medical Parole Hearing based upon a non-terminal illness, the board again denied LeVea a Medical Parole for the third time.

This latest parole hearing was his second regularly scheduled semi-annual parole hearing.

He will not get another regular hearing until July of 2019.

He could apply for medical parole again at any time, but should have to prove a significant change in condition for such consideration.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
William LeVea, now 86 years old, was convicted of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and Driving While Intoxicated and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree, for the November 20, 2009, death of Christopher Spack in a high-speed drunk driving crash where LeVea repeatedly rammed Spack’s truck until he sent Spack’s truck spinning into the path of a Chevy Silverado driven by Bradley Leyburn, of Cato, who was seriously injured in the crash.

16-year-old Patrick Walton and a passenger in his vehicle were also involved in the collision, but escaped without serious injury.

In January 2011, then 80-year-old William Louis LeVea, of Fulton, entered a guilty plea in Cayuga County Court in regards to the November 20, 2009 DWI crash that killed Christopher Spack, 41, of Camillus, and seriously injured Bradley Leyburn of Cato.

The defendant pled guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (Class B felony), Driving While Intoxicated (misd) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (misd), in satisfaction of a 15-count indictment.

He also waived his right to appeal the conviction.

While the defendant maintained that he does not remember all of the events, he wanted to plead guilty because he believes that he would be found guilty at trial and wanted to avoid the possibility of a harsher sentence after trial.

Because of the lack of memory about the incident, LeVea entered what is known as an “Alford plea.”

The last time Levea hit Spack’s truck they were driving at approximately 80 miles per hour.

The impact sent Spack’s truck spinning into oncoming traffic where Spack’s vehicle was struck by Bradley Leyburn’s Chevy Silverado. Spack’s truck was ripped in half and Spack was ejected and died instantly from his injuries.

Leyburn suffered a serious ankle injury during the collision with Spack’s truck.

Levea further acknowledged that he was driving while having a blood alcohol content above 0.08% BAC in that two hours after the crash his blood alcohol level was tested at 0.16% BAC.

He was sentenced to 6-18 years in prison in Cayuga County Court March 2, 2011.

“The outpouring of support from the public in voicing your opinions to keep this killer in prison is greatly appreciated by the family of Chris Spack, who go through unspeakable grief and trauma every time this man faces a parole hearing where there is a risk he will get out before serving the maximum time allowed by law,” Adsit said. “The public needs to be protected from this dangerous individual for as long as possible. We hope the Parole Board will continue to take that fact seriously every time they have to meet regarding this killer.”

Print this entry