Sam Ellis pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular manslaughter for a June 2015 drunk-driving crash in Montgomery County, Maryland, that killed two of his passengers, and he was sentenced to four years in prison. The charges against Sam Ellis originally included vehicular homicide while under the influence and causing life-threatening injury by motor vehicle, and the case prompted Maryland lawmakers to pass a new statute aimed at adults who host underage drinking parties.
The Crash That Led to the Charges
On the night of June 25, 2015, Ellis, then 18 and a recent graduate of Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, left an underage drinking party in North Potomac with three fellow graduates: Alexander Murk, Calvin Li, and Cameron Siasi. Ellis drove a 2006 Acura sedan. Two tests later measured his blood alcohol at .09 and .07; the legal limit in Maryland is .08, and Ellis was below the legal drinking age.1Bethesda Magazine. Samuel Ellis Sentenced to Four Years in Prison
On DuFief Mill Road, a residential street with a 20-mph speed limit, police determined Ellis was traveling faster than 65 mph, the maximum speed the Collision Reconstruction Unit’s instruments could record. One report cited speeds as high as 105 mph.2WJLA. Judge Seals Records in Deadly Crash Case of Sam Ellis Ellis lost control. The Acura plowed through a culvert, struck a drainage pipe embankment, went airborne, and landed on its roof about 150 feet from impact after crashing through two trees and a fence. The force nearly split the rear of the car from the front. Murk and Li, seated in the back, were killed. Siasi, in the front, suffered minor injuries.1Bethesda Magazine. Samuel Ellis Sentenced to Four Years in Prison Montgomery County Police Captain Tom Didone said speed, alcohol, and the back-seat passengers’ lack of seat belts all contributed to the deaths.3Fox 5 DC. Driver in Crash That Killed 2 Wootton Teens Pleads Guilty
Original Charges and Guilty Plea
Ellis turned himself in to police in November 2015, roughly five months after the crash. He was initially charged with two counts of vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol, two counts of manslaughter by motor vehicle, and one count of causing life-threatening injury by motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.4NBC Washington. Recent High School Graduate Sentenced in Maryland Drunk Driving Crash
On April 8, 2016, Ellis pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Circuit Court to two counts of vehicular manslaughter. The State’s Attorney’s Office denied there was any plea bargain. Spokesman Ramon Korionoff called it “a plea to the straight, top-line charges” and said no favors were given.5NBC Washington. Recent High School Graduate Pleading Guilty in Maryland Car Crash That Killed 2 Friends Ellis faced up to 20 years in prison on the two counts.6CBS News Baltimore. Teen Admits Responsibility in Fatal Drunk Driving Crash
The Four-Year Sentence
Judge Robert Greenberg sentenced Ellis on June 9, 2016, after a four-hour hearing. Greenberg imposed 20 years in prison but suspended 16, leaving Ellis to serve four years as two consecutive two-year terms, one for each count of vehicular manslaughter.4NBC Washington. Recent High School Graduate Sentenced in Maryland Drunk Driving Crash Ellis was eligible for parole after one year.1Bethesda Magazine. Samuel Ellis Sentenced to Four Years in Prison
On release, Ellis was ordered to serve five years of supervised probation, complete 500 hours of community service that included speaking to young people about the dangers of drunk driving, and use an ignition interlock device on any vehicle he drove. A probation violation could trigger up to the remaining 16 years of the suspended sentence.2WJLA. Judge Seals Records in Deadly Crash Case of Sam Ellis Prosecutors had sought 12 years, and the Murk family formally asked the court to impose that sentence.1Bethesda Magazine. Samuel Ellis Sentenced to Four Years in Prison
Prior Record and Sealed Jail Calls
At sentencing, prosecutors cited a prior January 2014 arrest, when Ellis was 17, for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Anderson told the court Ellis “has been through the court system a few times before; he got some benefits and breaks, and is not necessarily deserving of one now.”2WJLA. Judge Seals Records in Deadly Crash Case of Sam Ellis
Prosecutors also pointed to jailhouse phone calls Ellis made while awaiting sentencing. On the recordings, according to prosecutors, Ellis could be heard laughing with his parents about a plan to “concoct a sob story apology speech” aimed at the judge and the victims’ families, and in a separate call he said he wished he were at the beach having “a lit ass time.” Prosecutors and the victims’ families asked that the recordings be played in open court. Judge Greenberg declined, listened to them privately in chambers, and placed the recordings and related evidence under an indefinite seal.2WJLA. Judge Seals Records in Deadly Crash Case of Sam Ellis
The Party Host’s Penalty
The underage drinking party Ellis left that night was hosted at the North Potomac home of Kenneth Saltzman, a 49-year-old father. Saltzman was known to ask departing teens whether they were too drunk to drive, but did not stop them from leaving by car.1Bethesda Magazine. Samuel Ellis Sentenced to Four Years in Prison On December 10, 2015, Saltzman pleaded guilty in District Court in Rockville to two counts of allowing underage drinking and received the maximum then available: a $2,500 fine per count, $5,000 total.7WTOP. Md. Man Pleads Guilty to Allowing Underage Drinking That Led to Fatal Crash Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said existing law did not include criminal liability, jail time, or enhanced fines when underage drinking led to death.8NBC Washington. Father Fined $5K for Hosting Teen Drinking Party That Led to Fatal Crash
Alex and Calvin’s Law
In response to the deaths of Murk and Li, Maryland legislators introduced House Bill 409, sponsored by Delegate Fraser-Hidalgo and others, known as Alex and Calvin’s Law. The bill was enrolled on May 16, 2016.9Maryland General Assembly. HB 409 – Alex and Calvin’s Law
The law makes it a misdemeanor for an adult to knowingly allow a person under 21 to possess or consume alcohol at a residence the adult owns, leases, or lives in, or to furnish alcohol to such a person, when the adult knew or reasonably should have known the underage drinker would then operate a motor vehicle, and when that person caused serious physical injury or death while driving impaired. A violation carries up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.9Maryland General Assembly. HB 409 – Alex and Calvin’s Law