Prison ordered for vehicular homicide
Blain Lain, 19, of Medford, will serve 5 years in prison and another 5 years of extended supervision for charges relating to the September 26, 2023 crash that resulted in the death of one of the passengers and the paralyzation of another.
Lain was in court on Monday for a sentencing hearing with Judge Ann Knox-Bauer. In July, Lain had agreed to a plea agreement with District Attorney Kristi Tlusty for charges from this and another case.
At 2:55 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2023 law enforcement responded to a rollover crash near N2524 Oriole Dr. in the town of Medford. At the scene, they found the bodies of the vehicle’s three occupants in the field and a debris path that was over 100 yards long. Passenger Breanne Flint was killed in the crash and according to the criminal complaint, Lain had detectible levels of a restricted substance in his blood at the time of the crash and Zack Mesun was left paralyzed due to injuries sustained from the crash.
On January 24, Tlusty filed the following formal charges against Lain: Homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle - a class G felony with possible penalty of up to $25,000 in fines and up to
See LAIN on page 4 10 years in prison.
Knowingly operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and causing death — a class H felony with a penalty of up to $10,000 in fines and up to six years in prison.
Knowingly operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and causing great bodily harm — a class I felony with a penalty of up to $10,000 in fines and up to three years, six months in prison.
Homicide by vehicle - use of controlled substance — a class D felony with a penalty of a fine up to $100,000 and up to 25 years in prison.
Use of a vehicle with a controlled substance in blood causing great bodily harm — a class F felony with a penalty of a fine up to $25,000 and up to 12 years, six months in prison.
On Monday, Judge Knox-Bauer ordered 5 years in prison and five years of extended supervision for the Homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle charge. For the knowingly operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and causing great bodily harm charge the court withholds sentence and places Lain on probation for 2 years consecutive with the homicide charge.
For the charge of causing great bodily harm while under the influence of a controlled substance, the judge ordered a 10 year prison sentence consisting of 5 years of initial confinement followed by 5 years of extended supervision to be served concurrent to the sentence for the homicide charge.
The plea agreement also included an unrelated charge of Lain exposing himself to a minor. In that charge the court withheld sentence and placed Lain on probation for two years consecutive to the other sentences.
Conditions of probation and extended supervision are: pay court costs, provide a DNA sample and pay the surcharge, no contact with the victim or the victim's family, have no contact with any female under the age of 18 without prior approval from the probation agent, alcohol and other drug assessment, counseling, absolute sobriety, obtain GED and maintain employment, apologize to the victims in a matter up to the probation agent. In addition, he must pay restitution which is to be determined within 30 days, pay the towing bill, pay the blood draw fee, driver's license revocation. He will also serve six months jail time consecutive to his other sentences for the exposure charge.
The criminal complaint was based on reports and investigation by Sgt. Nick Schuld and Det. Aemus Balsis of the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department. According to the complaint as Schuld was southbound on Oriole on the way to the scene he crossed a bridge and was driving uphill, when he noticed a patch of wet leaves in the roadway. Schuld noted this was the location where it appeared the vehicle began to skid and lose friction with the road surface.
“I saw tracks enter the west ditch. As I crested the hill, I saw a vehicle (minivan) in the west field, at rest on its right side, facing northwest. The debris field leading to the vehicle was easily over 100 yards long. I saw two human bodies lying among the debris field; it appeared they had been ejected,” the report states.
A Life360 application on the phone of victim Breanne Flint recorded the speed at the time of the crash at being 112 mph.
