Ellington Man Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter In Vernon Crash Case

VERNON, CT — An Ellington man has entered a guilty plea to a manslaughter charge in an 11-month-old case involving a crash in Vernon.

Tolland State's Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky said Friday that 47-year-old Mark A. Desmarais entered the plea for a second-degree manslaughter charge. The crash occurred on Talcottville Road in Vernon on Nov. 27, 2020.

According to case records, Desmarais was operating a motor vehicle that crashed into a motorcycle being operated by Willie Cooper, 61, of Vernon. Cooper suffered life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash.

Vernon Police attempted life-saving measures at the scene of the crash and transported Cooper to Rockville General Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, case records show.

After what Gedansky termed, "an extremely thorough investigation by the Vernon Police Department," investigators were able to determine that Desmarais was drinking alcohol at three different establishments prior to driving the vehicle, case records show. Blood samples obtained from Desmarais shortly after the incident showed that he was driving at more than twice the legal limit with blood alcohol levels of .197 and .187, Gedansky said.

The legal limit to operate a motor vehicle in Connecticut is a .08 blood alcohol level.

Desmarais entered his plea as part of an agreement with the State of Connecticut that includes prison time of between five and eight years, among other penalties, Gedansky said.

Desmarais is scheduled to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Kathleen McNamara on Jan. 14.