The second of two cousins involved in a three-car collision that left a man dead in 2020 has been sentenced.
Dustin Wayne Gwathney, 25, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Lowndes County Circuit Court. Judge Lee “Jay” Howard handed down a sentence of 17 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Five of those years will be suspended, leaving Gwathney to serve 12, Assistant District Attorney Marc Amos told The Dispatch.
Gwanthy and his cousin, Joseph Tailor Gwanthy, 21, were indicted for manslaughter in 2021 by a Lowndes County grand jury following their involvement in a car crash on Aug. 23, 2020, that killed Sheldon Campbell, 45, of Starkville.
Joseph Gwathney, who also pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison.
The cousins were racing down Wilkins-Wise Road in separate vehicles. Dustin Gwathney lost control of his vehicle and swerved into oncoming traffic, crashing into Campbell’s car.
Campbell was pronounced dead on the scene from blunt force trauma. His fiancee, who was also in the vehicle, was airlifted after the crash.
Another passenger who was riding in Joseph Gwathney’s car provided testimony during the trial, confirming the two cousins were racing.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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