By LINDELL KAY
Daily News Staff
An Onslow County jury convicted a Jacksonville woman of second-degree murder Thursday in the 2007 traffic death of a mother of three.
Stephanie Megahan was sentenced to 10οΎ½ to 13 years in prison after a jury found her guilty of second-degree murder and aggravated felony death by motor vehicle in the death of Tabitha Morrison. Megahan pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and driving while license revoked, responsible for red light violation and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
She was ordered to seek alcohol treatment while incarcerated, according to a ruling by Judge Gary Trawick of Pender County.
Morrison was driving home from church the night of Nov. 30, 2007. Her husband and three small children were in a vehicle behind her. Morrisons family witnessed her vehicle being struck by Megahans vehicle, Assistant District Attorney J.B. Askins said.
This is the most egregious case like this I have seen in 10 years as a prosecutor, he said after the t
rial.
{Photo Left: Tabitha Lynn Morrison and Family.
Daily News Staff
An Onslow County jury convicted a Jacksonville woman of second-degree murder Thursday in the 2007 traffic death of a mother of three.
Stephanie Megahan was sentenced to 10οΎ½ to 13 years in prison after a jury found her guilty of second-degree murder and aggravated felony death by motor vehicle in the death of Tabitha Morrison. Megahan pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and driving while license revoked, responsible for red light violation and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
She was ordered to seek alcohol treatment while incarcerated, according to a ruling by Judge Gary Trawick of Pender County.
Morrison was driving home from church the night of Nov. 30, 2007. Her husband and three small children were in a vehicle behind her. Morrisons family witnessed her vehicle being struck by Megahans vehicle, Assistant District Attorney J.B. Askins said.
This is the most egregious case like this I have seen in 10 years as a prosecutor, he said after the t
rial.{Photo Left: Tabitha Lynn Morrison and Family.
Photo courtesy of Morgan Funeral Home, Jacksonville, NC}
Witnesses testified during the trial that they saw Megahans vehicle fail to stop for the red light at Old Bridge Street and Marine Boulevard. Megahans blood alcohol concentration at the time of the crash was 0.25, prosecutors said.
Since Megahan had been previously convicted of driving while impaired in 1996 and 2006, prosecutors argued for a minimum of 13 years in prison.
I am pleased with the jurys verdict, but I am disappointed with the judge sentencing the defendant in the mitigated range of punishment, said Dewey Hudson, the district attorney for the 4th Prosecutorial District, which includes Onslow County.
The jury deliberated for 35 minutes before returning to the courtroom with the verdict.
Since Megahan had been previously convicted of driving while impaired in 1996 and 2006, prosecutors argued for a minimum of 13 years in prison.
I am pleased with the jurys verdict, but I am disappointed with the judge sentencing the defendant in the mitigated range of punishment, said Dewey Hudson, the district attorney for the 4th Prosecutorial District, which includes Onslow County.
The jury deliberated for 35 minutes before returning to the courtroom with the verdict.
