Bend man sentenced to 8 years in prison, lifetime loss of driver’s license in DUII rollover crash that killed La Pine man
(Update: Adding video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A 25-year-old Bend man was sentenced Tuesday to more than eight years in prison and permanent loss of his driver's license after pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide, DUII and assault in a 2023 rollover crash that claimed a La Pine man’s life.
Bryce Tanner Lupton was arrested in February of 2024 on manslaughter, DUII and assault charges in the crash that occurred late on a Saturday night in September of 2023, when police said his 2023 Ford Focus left Southeast 15th Street near Bear Creek Road and overturned.
Passenger Jacobic Lee Barnhill, 23, of La Pine, was killed in the crash. Lupton and a second passenger, a 22-year-old Redmond woman, were injured and taken to St. Charles Bend for treatment. Police said at the time that speed and alcohol were believed to be factors in the crash.
After a settlement conference, Lupton signed a guilty plea petition on April 3 to the lesser, but still Class B felony charge of criminally negligent homicide, as well as third-degree assault and DUII. Prosecutors agreed to recommend a 100-month prison term, which Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby accepted at Tuesday's sentencing, along with imposing permanent revocation of his driver's license.
