Three Thames Centre men have escaped jail time for their part in a skid steer joyride that claimed the life of 21-year-old Riley Shannon.
Adam Sinden, 20, Trent Weller, 20, and Ryan Esler, 19, were sentenced Tuesday at the London courthouse for leaving the scene of an accident without offering assistance in the fatal March 2017 mishap. The trio had pleaded guilty to the charge in February.
The court heard the young men were at a small party at their friend Amanda Murray's Dorchester home on March 11, 2017 when just before midnight the three men went out to a garage -- dubbed the toy shed -- where the Murray family stored recreational vehicles and equipment. Weller hopped on the skid steer and moved it less than a metre before he was told to get off of it by Murray. Sinden then told Murray he would move it back into its rightful place in the shed. But instead of doing that, Sinden proceeded to back the skid steer out of the shed and down the Murray's long laneway. Weller had hopped onto the side of the machine, while Esler jumped onto a snow blade mounted onto the front-end.
Flustered, Murray called Shannon to come out of the house to help get the men off of the skid steer. Shannon and another friend, Reece Maddocks, attempted to knock on the window of the slow-moving machine. Maddocks wasn't comfortable getting too close, but Shannon was able to knock on the window a second time before his foot became stuck in the wheels. He was pulled under the machine, which crushed his mid-section by the time it was stopped.
Shannon told the men he could not feel his body and asked them to call for help.
Maddocks called 911, but Sinden, Trent, and Esler grabbed their belongings and took off through the nearby woods. Shannon lost consciousness and was pronounced dead in hospital at 12:49am.
In handing down her decision, Ontario Court Justice Wendy Harris Bentley described the incident as "terrible" and "tragic" for all.
"This is a difficult sentencing," said Harris Bentley."I accept this conduct was out of character for all three accused."
None of the men have a prior criminal record, had happy childhoods, and have since completed over 100 hours of community service each, according to a pre-sentence report. All three expressed remorse for their actions with Esler stating his biggest regret was running and not staying with Shannon after he was run over. Weller had previously said "the worst thing we could have done was leave and we did." Sinden also stated they should have stayed but admitted he was scared.
Weller and Esler were each handed a suspended sentence with 12 months probation. Sinden received a stiffer penalty because he was the one driving the skid steer. He was given a suspended sentence with three years probation. He must also pay a $2,000 fine, complete 100 hours volunteer work, and is banned from driving for one year.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Sinden has been deterred," Harris Bentley told the court."Given the prevalence of social media, these events will always follow him."
Scott and Sandra Shannon
At a previous court appearance, Sinden offered an apology directly to the Shannon family. It was something both Harris Bentley and Riley's father Scott Shannon said "took courage" to do.
Speaking outside of the courthouse following the sentencing, the elder Shannon stated he is still very emotional about the incident and that no amount of words would ever give him back his son.
"I think these young men today were given a gift. They were given a gift of freedom and given a gift of a second chance, which Riley does not have," said Scott Shannon. "They are very fortunate to be able to go on and live their life and we hope they will try to make smart decisions, make a contribution to society."
Shannon's mother Sandra Shannon said she would honour her son's memory by speaking his name every day.
"Riley was happy, rambunctious, he had a twinkle in his eye, he was a bit of a rascal. He lit up the room when he walked into a room. He tried to make everyone feel happy. He was a joy," Sandra Shannon said. "His absence is always felt... there is always an empty chair."