Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The driver of the car in which a 17-year-old Sweet Home boy was killed was arraigned Sept. 12 on a charge of first-degree manslaughter in Linn County Circuit Court.
Ernie Zane Allen, 45, was also indicted on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII) and driving while suspended, misdemeanor. He was charged on Aug. 23.
Allen was the driver in the car crash that killed John “Nick” Larson on Aug. 8 on Highway 228 near Valley View Drive.
Allen is accused in three unrelated cases in Linn County Circuit Court and Sweet Home Municipal Court.
In Circuit Court, Allen also is charged with another DUII in one case and refusing to take a Breathalyzer test in another.
In Sweet Home, he is facing a second-degree theft charge.
Allen has a long history of contact with Sweet Home Police Department, starting in the late 1980s.
He also has an extensive history of convictions in court, both in Municipal Court and Circuit Court.
In Circuit Court, he has been convicted in 15 separate cases since 1988. Previous convictions include first-degree criminal mischief in 1988; fourth-degree assault in 2002, unauthorized departure in 2003; providing false information to a police officer in 1989; driving while suspended, habitual offender, a C felony, in 1991; driving while suspended, felony, in 1994; DUII in 1995; failure to appear in 1995; third-degree criminal mischief and criminal trespass in 1988; harassment in 1989; second-degree criminal mischief in 1989; failure to perform the duties of a driver in 1988; DUII in 1988; menacing in 1990; driving while suspended, misdemeanor in 1990; and fourth-degree assault in 1992.
Previous Sweet Home convictions include four counts of fourth-degree assault, three counts of disorderly conduct, menacing, possession of a controlled substance, recklessly endangering another person, DUII, third-degree theft and a noise violation.