Crime & Safety
Woman Accused of Providing Drugs in Fatal Crash Sentenced to 3-6 Years in Jail
Cindy Sheppard has pleaded guilty in a crack, cocaine and heroin case against her that is separate from the charges against her in connection to allegedly providing Darriean Hess drugs before a crash that killed a Hamilton woman.
The Hampton Beach woman accused of giving unlicensed teen driver Darriean Hess drugs before Hess caused a fatal September crash that killed a Hamilton woman has pleaded guilty to a separate crack, cocaine and heroin case against her, according to the Union Leader.
Cindy Sheppard, 48, of 51 Ocean Blvd, Apt. 5, received three to six years in jail in exchange for her guilty plea to six felony drug dealing counts, according to the Union Leader.
The charges stem from an arrest last summer during Hampton police efforts to rid the beach of a "significant" source of heroin.
The case isn't connected to the Sept. 21 fatal crash on the Neil R. Underwood Memorial Bridge, during which Hess, 19, of Seabrook, struck four cyclists. Pamela Wells, 60, of Hamilton and Elise Bouchard, 52, of Danvers were killed during the crash, while Uwe Uhmeyer, 60, of Essex and Margo Heigh, 54, of Danvers were injured.
The crash came roughly eight hours after Hess was pulled over for speeding in the same area. Sheppard arrived at the scene of the traffic stop to take custody of Hess and the car Hess was driving, a car that belonged to Hess' fiancé, Scott Martin, 20, also of Seabrook.
Sheppard was ordered not to let Hess operate the vehicle, although police have alleged that Sheppard returned the keys to Hess and gave Hess fentanyl, a powerful painkiller, before letting Hess leave not long before the fatal crash occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 21.
Sheppard was indicted this month on dispensing a controlled drug, possession of fentanyl, possession of cocaine, possession of methadone, and allowing an improper person to operate a vehicle charges in connection to the fatal crash.
Hess faces possible trial on two counts of negligent homicide, two counts of negligent homicide driving while intoxicated, two counts of manslaughter and two counts of second-degree assault.
Martin has also been indicted. He recently failed to show for his trial on an allowing an improper person to operate a vehicle charge.
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