Appeals court upholds man's convictions stemming from fatal crash on Muncie Bypass
A Delaware Circuit Court 3 jury in February 2024 found Melvin Lee Weaver, now 33, guilty of reckless homicide, obstruction of justice and driving while suspended.
Judge Doug Mawhorr later imposed a seven-year sentence — five years in prison followed by two years on probation.
Testimony during the trial indicated Weaver was driving a Chevrolet pickup truck northbound on the bypass on Sept. 26, 2020, when he crashed into the back of a 1972 Triumph that was stopped for a red light at McGalliard Road.
The driver of the Triumph — Matthew Adams, 28, of Tipton — was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
More: Appeals court upholds Muncie man's convictions stemming from fatal overdose
Adams' wife, Anna, and the occupant of the third vehicle involved in the crash, a Michigan man, also were injured.
When Weaver was approached by Indiana State Police at the crash scene, he identified himself as his father. The younger Weaver's driving privileges were suspended at the time.
In an appeal, Weaver maintained jurors should have been told he could not be guilty of reckless homicide if they found he had "merely acted negligently."
He also maintained there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions.
In a recent 3-0 ruling, the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected both arguments.
"In finding Weaver guilty, the jury apparently credited the other witnesses' testimony over Weaver's testimony," Judge Cale Bradford wrote in the ruling. "Weaver's challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence amounts to nothing more than an invitation to reweigh the evidence, which we will not do."
Weaver, incarcerated at the Putnamville Correctional Facility, has a projected release date in January 2027, according to state Department of Correction records.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Man's convictions in fatal Muncie Bypass crash upheld by court
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