Defendant Charged With Manslaughter In Fatal Vernon Crash Arraigned

VERNON, CT — A judge in Rockville Superior Court Friday ordered a man charged with manslaughter in connection with a fatal car versus motorcycle crash in Vernon held on a $1 million bond.

Jahmarcus McCatty, 20, of Hartford, appeared before Judge Richard Rubino Friday, two days after being arrested on a warrant for his involvement in the Feb. 27 crash. The warrant charged McCatty with first-degree manslaughter, evading responsibility resulting in death, following too closely, evading responsibility causing physical injury, second-degree larceny, possessing stolen license plates, failure to wear a seat belt, reckless driving, misuse of a license plate, illegal racing on a roadway, failure to obey a stop sign and making an improper turn.

McCatty's case was continued to April 26 and transferred to the Part A docket, which is reserved for the most serious of charges. James Faulkner, 25, of Vernon., was killed in the crash, which Gedansky called a lengthy road rage incident that went on for "miles."

Tolland Judicial District State's Attorney Matthew Gedansky argued for the $1 million bond based on a warrant showing McCatty tried to flee the scene of the crash on foot "with great effort," and the fact that "automatic" and altered weapons were found on him during the warrant service in Hartford. He termed McCatty "a great risk to the community."

A public defender assigned to the case asked for a $250,000, considering McCatty also has a $500,000 bond on his head in a case out of Hartford and is also on probation.

Rubino would have none of it and said he was "troubled by the actions" related to the case. He then granted the prosecution's request for the $1 million bond.

McCatty was neatly dressed in a blue collared shirt and khaki pants. Several motorcycle associates of Faulkner, including one wearing a Hells Angels vest, sat quietly in court during the arraignment. Vernon police were also present.

The crash took place at 3:48 p.m. on Feb. 27. It involved a white 2018 Infiniti Q50 with a "misused" plate and stolen out of Howard Beach, NY, according to the warrant. McCatty was identified as the driver.

Faulkner's motorcycle was a 2008 Harley Davidson, records show. Faulkner was transported to Rockville General Hospital shortly after the crash, and was pronounced dead there, according to police.

Also involved were two parked vehicles, a 2005 Subaru Legacy and a 2015 Kia Optima, police said.

According to the warrant, Faulkner and McCatty began "chasing" each other in a road rage incident that began on Grove Street (close to Route 30) and ended with the collision at Prospect Street and Ellington Avenue.

Faulkner was thrown from the bike, which was partially lodged under the Infiniti and the parked Subaru, according to the warrant.

A review of the Infiniti's computer system showed the impact was at 34 mph, but the car was traveling at 80 mph with the accelerator depressed to the floor five seconds earlier, according to the warrant. Prospect Street has a 25 mph speed limit.