Robert Gene Mayfield of Sweet Home pleaded guilty Dec. 11 as part of an agreement in Linn County Circuit Court to charges of criminally negligent homicide and fourth-degree assault in connection to a crash that killed Neil Nightingale of Sweet Home in 2016.
The plea agreement places parameters on the possible sentence, said Mayfield’s attorney, Laura A. Fine. Under the agreement, the state will seek up to 13 months incarceration, while the defense is asking for probation.
Mayfield also agreed to pay restitution, which had not been set yet, and to post-prison supervision, Fine said.
Sentencing is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Jan. 17 in Linn County Circuit Court.
Charges to be dismissed include first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter and third-degree assault.
A grand jury declined to charge Mayfield in 2016. A second grand jury indicted Mayfield In December 2018 following the settlement and dismissal of a civil lawsuit in October 2018. The details of that settlement were not made public.
According to state police reports on the Jan. 21, 2016 crash, a 1998 International utility truck driven by Mayfield, then 54, was westbound on Highway 20 near milepost Highway 20 milepost 21, near the Santiam Lumber Mill, when it crossed the center turn lane and collided head-on with a 2011 Kenworth log truck operated by Neil Nightingale, 39, of Sweet Home.
A 2003 Subaru Legacy, driven by David Briggs of Lebanon, was also eastbound and collided with the log truck after the initial crash.
Both Mayfield and Nightingale were critically injured in the crash. Nightingale died Jan. 29, 2016. Mayfield survived following multiple surgeries.
“Mr. Mayfield has finally accepted responsibility for his actions that morning that led to my sweet husband’s death,” said Tami Nightingale, the widow of the deceased man, following Mayfield’s court appearance. “We have waited nearly four years for the truth to be told. This truly will help give our family closure (with) this horrid accident.”
Prosecutor Richard Wijers said he could not comment at this point on the facts of the case.
That claim was part of the basis for the civil suit against Mayfield and his employer, Papé Machinery.
All she has ever wanted, Nightingale said, is the truth.
Mayfield did not comment.
Zachariah Lee Davis
Zachariah Lee Davis, 30, pleaded no contest to and was sentenced to 60 days in jail on two counts of attempting to elude a police officer and criminal driving while suspended Dec. 2 in Linn County Circuit Court.
He also was sentenced to 18 months probation and fined $1,300. His driver’s license also was suspended for 90 days.
As part of a plea agreement, charges of reckless driving and two counts of second-degree criminal trespass were dismissed.
Davis was arrested Nov. 17 after an officer noticed a vehicle traveling through the intersection of 12th and Main at a high rate of speed. A pursuit ensued after a Sweet Home police officer attempted a traffic stop. After the vehicle spun out and came to a stop, and the driver fled on foot across private property to 1530 Tamarack St., Tamarack Ridge Estates, where police arrested Davis.
Brandon Shayne McCullough
Brandon Shayne McCullough, 23, pleaded guilty to and was sentenced to 20 days in jail on a charge, in Linn County Circuit Court, of unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of methamphetamine Nov. 12.
He also was sentenced to 18 months probation and fined $300.
As part of a plea agreement charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of possession of a burglary tool or theft device and one count of possession of methamphetamine were dismissed.
McCullough was arrested on Oct. 18 near the intersection of Kalmia and 13th Avenue after police received a call from a woman who said her vehicle was in the parking lot near the library. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Lebanon and was returned to the owner.