Sears v. State

OPINION

COATS, Judge.

On June 20, 1981, Marion Sears drove an automobile across the center line of the highway at 3.2 mile Badger Road, near Fairbanks. Sears’ car ran head-on into a car driven by Darryl L. Claxton. Sears and her passenger, Marcia Carey, were injured as a result of the accident. Claxton was killed.

Sears was charged with manslaughter, AS 11.41.120(a)(1). After a jury trial on this charge ended with a hung jury, Sears pled no contest to a charge of criminally negligent homicide, AS 11.41.130. 1 Judge Jay Hodges sentenced Sears to five years with three years suspended. In addition,…