Muncie man sentenced to 5 years in prison for reckless homicide

A Delaware County Circuit Court judge sentenced a man Friday to five years in prison for his role in a fatal September 2020 car crash in Muncie.

Judge Douglas Mawhorr sentenced Melvin Weaver, 31,  to five years in prison and two years on probation, according to a Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office release.

Weaver was convicted in February by a Delaware County jury of reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony; obstruction of justice, a Level 6 felony; and driving while suspended, a Class A misdemeanor.

A probable cause affidavit stated that, on Sept. 26, 2020, an Indiana State Police trooper was dispatched to a serious personal injury/fatal crash on U.S. 35 at East McGalliard Road in Muncie.

The trooper spoke to Weaver, who was the driver of a dark blue 2009 Chevrolet Silverado involved in the crash.

Weaver was driving his 2009 Chevrolet Silverado northbound on U.S. 35 in the right-hand lane when he collided with a 1972 Triumph, driven by Matthew Adams, that was in front of him.

The Triumph then struck the rear of a vehicle that was in front of it. Adams was pronounced dead at the scene.

On the witness statement form Weaver filled out, under the name and date of birth, he put “Malvin Weaver DOB: 02/03/1973.”

A state trooper that spoke with Weaver at the scene thought he looked too young to have been born in 1973.

The trooper ran a driver’s license inquiry on the name and date of birth he had written in his statement.

The picture on the computer and the physical description did not match the driver.

When the state trooper asked Weaver about it, Weaver stated that he didn’t mean to put that name on the paper. He stated that it’s his father’s name and that he wasn’t thinking right.

He verbally identified himself as Melvin Lee Weaver, with a 1992 birthday.

Weaver did not have a driver’s license or ID on him and a records check revealed Weaver’s license was suspended.

Weaver stated in his video recorded statement that he had his cruise control set and was traveling between 55 and 65 miles per hour.

However, data retrieved from his vehicle’s airbag control module revealed that two-and-a-half seconds before impact, Weaver was traveling 75 miles per hour.

Weaver’s speed was reduced to 68 miles per hour half a second before impact.

In a written statement, Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman said “My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Matthew Adams. I am fully aware that nothing can bring Matthew back. However, hopefully this verdict can bring some form of comfort and a step towards closure. I also believe that the penalty for reckless homicide is far too lenient. I call on the Indiana General Assembly to toughen the penalty for the offense. I am proud of Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Ramirez, Prosecutor’s Investigator Alyssa Sorrell, and the Indiana State Police for their hard work and dedication in this case.”