Crime & Safety

Columbia Man Sentenced in Crash that Killed Marriotts Ridge Educator

The 42-year-old received 18 months for his role in the crash that caused Mary Ann Levant's death.

A Columbia man was sentenced at Howard County Circuit Court Friday to 18 months in jail for his involvement in a collision that resulted in the death of a Marriotts Ridge High School educator in 2012.

Richie Junior Burgess, 42, of the 1200 block of Little Patuxent Parkway, pleaded guilty two months ago to manslaughter. Police said Burgess' blood tested positive for the prescription medication Xanax at the time of the crash, Feb. 21, 2012.

The accident, on eastbound MD Route 32 at the Route 29 interchange, critically injured Mary Ann Levant, 64, long-time staff member of the Howard County Public School System. According to court records, a traffic expert determined that Burgess' Ford Explorer struck Levant's car on the driver's side door and drove her vehicle into a guardrail, after the Explorer crossed a protected portion of the eastbound Route 32 ramp from Route 29.

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Levant was paralyzed in the accident and died from her injuries in June, according to court records.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors read multiple letters from the community describing Levant as a "treasure to the community," according to Wayne Kirwan, a spokesperson for the Howard County state's attorney's office.

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Levant's husband, Reg Hahne, also testified, saying "the bottom fell out of my world," according to Kirwan.

Before being sentenced, Burgess addressed the court and apologized to Levant's family for his role in the accident, said Kirwan.

Howard County Circuit Court Judge William V. Tucker sentenced Burgess to three years in prison, with all but 18 months suspended. In addition, Tucker placed Burgess on five years supervised probation and ordered him to perform 1,000 hours of community service upon release.

Related:

Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter for 2012 Crash


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