Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces that 36 year-old Jennifer Sage of Columbia Avenue, in the Town of Hamburg, was sentenced today by Erie County Court Judge Thomas P. Franczyk to four to twelve years in state prison with 5 years post-release supervision.

For three years following her release, Judge Franczyk also mandated that any vehicles Sage has access to have to be equipped with an ignition interlock device.

In January 2016, Sage pleaded guilty as charged to Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree.  Sage admitted that on October 10, 2015, at 1:14 P.M., on Route 5 and Amsdell Road in the Town of Hamburg, she drove her vehicle into the back of 47 year-old Christopher Barton as he was sitting on his motorcycle waiting for the light to change.  Sage never applied the brakes on her vehicle and hit Barton at a high rate of speed which resulted in his death.  The Erie County Forensic Toxicology Laboratory determined Sage’s blood alcohol content was .26%, over three times the legal limit.

Acting District Attorney Flaherty praised the work of Hamburg Police Accident Investigators John Baker and Scott Weyrough. “Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family of Mr. Barton,” says Acting District Attorney Flaherty.  “We thank the professional and dedicated work of all of the members of the Hamburg Police Department who secured the evidence which brought this case to justice.”

Assistant District Attorney Christopher  M. McCarthy of  the  Vehicular Crimes Bureau prosecuted the case.