Victim's family objects to plea deal for fatal crash in Minneapolis

Unlicensed drunk driver was traveling at least 85 mph; Hennepin County plea deal calls for a four-year sentence

Jun 01, 20230

Minneapolis Edison High School count

Josiah Oakley was a 2019 graduate of Minneapolis Edison High School, where he was on the chess team that won the Minneapolis Public Schools tournament in 2017. Oakley also played football and baseball and was a member of the band.

An unlicensed motorist admitted Wednesday that he was going at least 85 mph when he ran a red light, collided with another driver in a north Minneapolis intersection late last year and killed him.

Sylvester T. Vaughn, 40, of Minneapolis pleaded guilty in Hennepin County District Court to criminal vehicular homicide-gross negligence in connection with the crash that killed 22-year-old Josiah R. Oakley of Minneapolis on Dec. 11 at N. 42nd and Lyndale avenues.

The plea agreement between the prosecution and the defense calls for Vaughn to receive a four-year sentence, which falls within state sentencing guidelines. With credit for time in jail since his arrest, Vaughn is expected to serve slightly more than 21⁄3 years in prison and the balance on supervised release.

https://www.startribune.com/man-pleads-guilty-to-homicide-for-driving-at-least-85-mph-killing-minneapolis-driver/600279184/