Pawling Man Admits Killing Patterson Motorcyclist

A 22-year old Pawling man admitted in court that he was high on alcohol and drugs when he killed a 19-year-old Patterson youth last summer.

Keith Johnson entered his guilty plea in Dutchess County Court last week to one count of vehicular manslaughter, a Class C felony carrying a maximum 15-year state prison term.

In court, Johnson told Judge Gerald Hayes that he lost control of his car on the evening of July 27, 2009, as it proceeded along Route 55 in Pawling and crossed into the oncoming lane where he struck a motorcycle operated by Shane Smith, 19, of Patterson. Smith was killed instantly.

Johnson was originally charged with both vehicular manslaughter as well as felony DWI since he had been convicted of a previous DWI arrest within the past 10 years—offenses that could have sent him to state prison for 25 years.

Johnson decided to take the plea bargain instead, to save Smith’s family from going through the agony of a trial. Judge Hayes told the court that he had read letters from both Smith’s family as well as Johnson’s and after listening to arguments from Senior District Attorney Jessica Segal and defense counsel James O’Neil, he would decide on an appropriate sentence when the Pawling man returns to court April 22.

Shane’s mother, Kimberly Pollard, remembered her son as a “wonderful person.”

The family has composed a tribute to Shane: “When a young life ends too soon, everyone wonders why? How can those who love him go on? For those of us who knew and loved Shane the pain is unbearable but when we remember him and that wonderful smile, we smile through our tears. Family from parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins meant the world to Shane. He was happiest when with his family or with his fishing pole in hand. Shane loved to talk and probably the only time he was quiet was when he was using that fishing rod.”

Shane came to Putnam County from California to live with his brother and grandparents, Lawrence and Marilyn Smith.

In addition to his parents, Lawrence Smith of Patterson and Kimberly Pollard of Anza, California, Shane is survived by his stepmother, Jennifer McQuaid of Patterson; two brothers— Ryan and Zachariah Smith; three sisters— Taylor Smith, Illyza and Elese McQuaid; and his grandparents, Marilyn and Lawrence Smith, and Patricia Fleming.