Jury convicts on lesser charges in Putnam DUI death case

WINFIELD, W.Va. — A Putnam County man could be sentenced to 18 months in jail after being convicted on two misdemeanor charges following a deadly car wreck last year on Poca River Road.

The Putnam County jury found Caleb Beckner, 25, of Red House, guilty Thursday on two lesser charges of DUI with death and aggravated DUI.

Beckner was driving drunk on March 9, 2012 when he lost control of his car in a bad curve and flipped the vehicle. It landed in a ditch. The wreck claimed the life of passenger Heather Brooks.

Prosecutors indicted Beckner on felony charges but were unable to prove during the three-day trial that he was driving recklessly. He was going 43 mph in a posted 35 mph zone. Evidence showed he never used his brakes in the curve.

Beckner will be sentenced August 1. He’s been in jail since last year’s arrest after having his parole revoked. He had been convicted of separate felonies before the wreck.