Ferrum Man Sentenced for Hunting Accident Death

Jason Cloutier, who killed a Ferrum College student and injured another in a hunting accident last November, was sentenced Monday to one year in jail.

Cloutier, 32, of Ferrum said he was hunting in woods near the campus when he mistook three students for deer and fired a shot from his .35-caliber Marlin rifle.  Jessica Goode, 23, was killed after she was hit in the chest and Regis Boudinot, then 20, was hit in the hand by the same bullet and lost his right finger.  He has since undergone reconstructive surgery and is scheduled for another operation on August 17.

Cloutier was represented by criminal defense attorney Will Davis, who said that his client cooperated throughout the investigation.

After pleading no contest to charges of involuntary manslaughter, carrying a concealed weapon, reckless handling of a firearm and trespassing, Cloutier was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge William Alexander to eight years in jail, with seven years suspended.  As part of the sentencing, Cloutier will be on probation for three years after he is released and will have to submit to drug testing as a result of two previous charges of possession of marijuana.

The Goode family played a role in crafting the plea agreement according to the Commonwealth's Attorney, Tim Allen, who indicated that the family wanted something good to come of the accident.  The Goodes requested that Cloutier speak at hunter safety courses hosted by the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for five years after he is released from jail.

Additional charges against Cloutier of trespass to hunt and hunting without a license were dropped.

The attorneys at Davis, Davis, Davis & Davis, PC, have been defending people facing criminal charges in Roanoke, Rocky Mount and surrounding areas in Southwest Virginia since 1891.  We aggressively represents clients charged with crimes ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, including but not limited to:

• Possession of controlled substances, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, prescription medicine, and methamphetamine
• Possession with intent to distribute
• Drug trafficking
• Juvenile drug charges
• Breaking and entering
• Robbery, burglary and theft
• Murder and manslaughter
• Assault
• Grand larceny

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Virginia, call Davis, Davis, Davis & Davis, P.C., at 540-483-5221 to schedule a free consultation with experienced criminal defense attorney Will Davis.