Kenyan Native In MA To Spend 60 Days In Jail For Vehicular Homicide

Lowell, MA - A pastor's son is behind bars for 60 days for two counts of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, in which he struck and killed a retired couple changing a tire on their travel trailer on Interstate 395 in Webster.

Geoffrey K. Wahome, 22, of Lowell, who is a native of Kenya, was sentenced today to two-and-a-half-years in the House of Correction, 30 days to serve; and one year in the House of Correction, 30 days to serve. In both cases, the balance of the two sentences is suspended for two years.

Robert G. Farner, 81, and Chloe K. Farner, 77, were struck about 6:30 a.m. Aug. 1 in the breakdown lane on the northbound side of Interstate 395 near Exit 1 in Webster, according to the state police report. Mr. Wahome told police he was returning from a late-night concert in New Jersey and was headed home, taking two rest stops on the way. State Trooper John DeNapoli concluded Mr. Wahome's “fatigue and inattention” contributed to the crash.

Mr. Wahome's was headed north on I-395 in his 2006 Nissan Altima, strayed into the breakdown lane and hit the left rear end of the pickup truck towing the Farners' camper, according to the state police report. State police said he swerved into the left lane, then back into the right lane, and the car rolled over, coming to rest on its roof near a wooded area past the breakdown lane.

Mr. Wahome was treated after the accident for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Farners were en route to Springville, N.Y., where they had lived before retiring, having left their son Steven's home in Putnam. They were married for 57 years and had six children, 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

In addition to 60 days in the House of Correction, Mr. Wahome was sentenced to 300 hours of community service and 15-years suspension of his driver's license. Judge Neil G. Snider ruled on the case in Dudley District Court.

“This is the hardest thing I have to do as a judge,” Judge Snider said, before the ruling. “Doing the right thing is easy. Knowing the right thing to do is tough. I believe this is the right thing to do.”

The week before, defense lawyer Michael S. Bowser recommended to Judge Snider that Mr. Wahome be sentenced to two six-month terms in the House of Correction, 30 days to serve, balanced suspended for two years, to be served concurrently; while Assistant District Attorney Scarlett Scannell recommended two and half years in the House of Correction, committed, for one of the motor vehicle homicide charges and 10 years' probation on-after the two-and-half-years sentence for the other.

For the community service, Judge Snider said Mr. Wahome should expound on the dangers of driving when fatigued to high school students.

Wearing a dark blue dress shirt buttoned to the top and dark dress slacks, Mr. Wahome was taking away in handcuffs while his family watched. Mr. Wahome is one of six siblings and a student at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, where he is on an athletic scholarship and is two years away from a pharmacy degree.

Last week in court, Mr. Wahome asked for the Farner family's forgiveness. He said he has thought long and hard about what happened and every night he prays that it was only a dream. He also said he keeps the Farner family in his prayers.

Before leaving the courthouse, Steven and Kathy Farner hugged Mr. Wahome's father, Pastor Gerald Wahome of St. Stephen Anglican Church in Lowell. Both Steven and Kathy Farner said, in unison, that it was an accident and they were not bitter.

“I would not like to see him (Mr. Wahome) locked up for five years because I don't think he's a criminal,” Steven Farner said. “It's not going to bring back mom and dad.”

“It was a loss for both families,” Kathy Farner added.

“But mom and dad are together. They will be together for always,” Stephen Farner concluded.

Exiting the court house, Pastor Wahome, clutched his son's personal affects in a small plastic bag and declined to make a comment before reuniting with his wife and other family members and driving off.

Source: http://www.telegram.com/article/20100625/NEWS/100629833/1116