Driver in fatal wreck goes to prison

Family members of a woman who was ejected and killed during a rollover collision June 27, 2021, spoke out against the driver Monday.

“I appreciate that he stepped forward and apologized, but we’re doing life sentences without her,” said the victim’s father.

The driver Gregory Bettis., 50, of Redding was southbound on Highway 88 in a 2010 Mazda C-9, when he allowed the vehicle to cross the centerline and exit the roadway.

The Mazda continued down the embankment, struck a fence and overturned.

Katelyn Shobert, 35, was unrestrained and was ejected from the vehicle according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Bettis was taken into custody on charges of driving under the influence causing death, failure to drive in the lane, driving with a suspended license, possession of drug paraphernalia and two warrants.

He originally denied the charges, claiming that Shobert was driving but forensic evidence didn’t bear that out.

“My mother was a beautiful human being, life radiated from her. No matter how many times someone apologizes to me that will never bring her back,” said her son.

Bettis was sentenced on the reckless driving causing death charge, which constitutes as a category B felony. He was taken into custody to serve 28-72 months in prison and given credit for one day.

• A man with a total of five convictions for driving under the influence was sentenced to seven years in prison Monday.

Jon Sliger, 55 was arrested Sept. 16, 2022, at the intersection of Foothill Road and Centerville Lane with a blood alcohol content of .277 and Feb. 10, 2023, with a blood alcohol content of 0.217 at Johnson Lane and Heybourne Road.

According to court documents, he was on probation on three DUI’s in California when he was arrested in Douglas.

Sliger told the court that he was never sent to jail for an extended period of time as he was in February.

“I spent 29 days and that was the biggest wake-up call with the thought of prison over my head.”

Sliger was seeking diversion but was denied.

“When you drink to that amount and you drive, you are an extreme danger to society,” said District Judge Thomas Gregory.

• A California man admitted he was under the influence when he hit a pedestrian at Stateline on Aug. 20, 2022.

William Earl Peterson, 51, was arrested at the scene after he struck the woman, whose knees and legs were injured, and then ran up on top of a Toyota Camry parked along Lake Parkway.

Peterson admitted Tuesday to counts of driving under the influence and reckless driving causing substantial bodily harm.

The charges carry a max sentence of 26 years if run consecutively.

Under an agreement, prosecutors and the defense will jointly recommend 3-8 years on the DUI and 1-3 years for the reckless count. The DUI also carries a mandatory fine of $2,000-$5,000.

Peterson said he fell asleep while driving. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22.