Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 50-year-old Allen J. Stirling of Lancaster was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan to a determinate sentence of 2 years in prison.

On May 13, 2019, at approximately 9:57 p.m., the defendant was driving on William Street in the Town of Lancaster when he lost control of his SUV and crashed near Bowen Road. The defendant, who works as an auto mechanic, knowingly operated a vehicle that was unsafe to be driven, which caused the death of his passenger. The victim, 41-year-old Jodie Anstett of Lancaster, was ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

After the crash, the defendant sent multiple threatening messages to family members of the deceased through text messages and social media as well as threatening messages toward one of the police officers involved in the investigation.

After the start of his jury trial, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide (Class “E” felony) and two counts of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanors). He pleaded guilty to all counts in the indictment against him on January 12, 2022.

Today, Stirling received a determinate sentence of one year in jail on each count. He received consecutive sentences on the first two counts of the indictment, Criminally Negligent Homicide and Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, with the third count to run concurrently.

Judge Eagan issued orders of protection on behalf of the victims.

DA Flynn commends Lt. Shaun DiMino and Officer Richard Albert of the Town of Lancaster Police Department for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Paul J. Glascott and Assistant District Attorney Christine O. Murray of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.