Concord Woman Receives 3.5 To 7 Year Sentence For Driving Into, Killing Bicyclist In 2018

CONCORD, NH — The woman responsible for the death of a bicyclist and state corrections sergeant in September 2018 is heading to prison.

Jessica Warren, 46, of Washington Street in Penacook was sentenced to three and a half to seven years in prison for driving after revocation or suspension-death resulting, causing the death of Patrick Bettens, also of Concord.

Patrick Bettens, a father of two, a U.S. Army veteran, and a triathlete, was riding north in the bike lane on North State Street when he shifted to get around a UPS truck parked in the bike lane. He was struck by Warren, who was driving a van. She then kept driving and crashed into another vehicle.

Concord police investigated the matter for months before charging Warren with vehicular assault, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and violations in February 2019. Nearly a year later, one charge was elevated to a felony. There were plea negotiations during the next two years, but they never went anywhere. A jury trial in May led to Warren being found guilty.

During sentencing Tuesday, Prosecutor Melinda Siranian requested a three and a half to seven year sentence, saying Warren was still in denial about what happened. She did not appear to take any responsibility for her actions. Warren repeatedly stated falsehoods during the proceedings, including that she helped EMTs at the scene and described interactions with the victim after the crash, she said. Siranian said several eyewitnesses challenged all of her statements.

Siranian said Warren had been arrested or cited on dozens of driving violations around New Hampshire from the late 1990s to 2018, including four operating after suspension charges, speeding charges, operating without license violations, and other charges.

Patrick Betten’s mother, Patricia Bettens, who Warren had been in communication with via text message, information used in the case, and in court documents, submitted a statement from her home in Michigan. Siranian had a victim advocate, Jackie Lawrie, read her statement.

Patricia Bettens wrote about her son’s life and how difficult life had been since he died. She remarked how amazing it was that hundreds of people attended his funeral and were still placing flowers at his gravesite and where he was killed. Patricia Bettens had pored over pictures and tried to make sense of the tragedy. She said being a father to his two sons was important to him since his father was not around. But now, he was gone, too, she said. Patricia Bettens said she was shocked Warren did not accept a plea deal for a year in jail after what she did to her son.

“While you never said you were sorry,” Patricia Bettens said, “Pat never said another word.”

Warren’s lack of repentance required justice on Earth and was “the best thing for her,” she said.

“Hopefully,” Patricia Bettens said, “it will bring to her knees so that her eternal time will be in heaven. Eternal mercy is what we hope for, for every soul. I ask that you give her all the time, allowable by law. She is going to need it.”

However, Warren challenged what witnesses said during the case in her statement.

“This whole thing has been so confusing and so dramatic,” she said to Patricia Bettens. “There was truth in what I texted to you when you got in touch with me. Unfortunately, you have lost something that I hope to never lose in my lifetime.”

Warren said the media got the story wrong and she did not purposefully run him over. She said she gave him “a thumbs up” while he rode by. But the UPS driver, walking out in front of her, caused him to brake and pull in front of her, which caused her to hit him.

Warren said she called 911 after the crash, ran over to Bettens, and tended to him. She claimed he was joking and asked him to tell his sons that he would see them on the other side.

“Everything I’m telling you is the truth,” she said.

Warren also claimed the UPS driver who testified was not the same driver who was at the scene of the crash. She said he should have been made to undergo drug and alcohol testing just like she had to do.

Warren admitted witnesses claimed she never tended to Bettens but denied their accounts. However, she apologized to Patricia Bettens and said she hoped she would be a better person when she came out of prison.

“I have given up my apartment,” she said, expecting to head to prison. “I have given up my daughter. I’ve given up, me as a person … willingly, it’s hard for me every day. I’ll never forget holding his hand. I’ll never forget … knowing your son will always be a part of my life. I hope that you can forgive me … I’m deeply sorry.”

Siranian raised concerns about what Warren said, adding it went against all the evidence presented during the case. She asked Attori to consider that before sentencing.

Judge Mark Attori said he would, that he needed to check something and then recessed. After returning, he granted the prosecution’s recommendation.

Attori said he was shocked by what he heard and was trying to understand how anyone could drive into a bicyclist and then not stop to assist.

“I have a very difficult time understanding how anyone could be, in that situation, behind the wheel of that vehicle, no matter how accidentally the collision may have been, and not stopping immediately, and attending to the person whom you had just run over,” Attori said. “It’s very difficult for me … and I’m trying to be as compassionate and understanding as I can. But I can’t get over that mental hurdle.”

Attori said Warren’s comments “didn’t help me, in that respect,” adding there was little to no evidence backing up her claims. Even though she was not intoxicated and did not seem to be speeding, “she should have never been on the road in the first place driving that day.”

Defense Attorney Vanessa Gelinas requested Warren be allowed to stay out of prison, on bail, pending her appeal to the case. But that request was denied.

Attori did amend the sentence to allow Warren to seek a reduction in her sentence after completing approved prison programs.

Merrimack County Attorney Paul Halvorsen said was glad the judge agreed to their sentence recommendation.

“Ms. Warren's decisions of that day clearly resulted in the death of Mr. Bettens,” he said. “Judge Attorri's sentence is appropriate and reflects the seriousness of Warren's actions.”

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