Lincoln Man Gets Prison Term For Fatal Crash

FAYETTEVILLE — James Paul Barber, 29, of Lincoln, pleaded guilty Thursday to negligent homicide in the death of a Rogers woman in a drunken driving crash.

Samantha Lynn Wesson was pronounced dead at the scene of a single car accident March 28 on Viney Grove Road in Prairie Grove.

Barber had a blood alcohol level between 0.12 and 0.16 when he lost control of the car and crashed into a tree, according to court documents.

“These cases are always tragic. This one is especially tragic in that the victim had only recently come to Arkansas to take care of a sick relative,” said Denis Dean, deputy prosecutor. “It’s unfortunate we have to have cases like this to highlight why people shouldn’t drink and drive.”

Washington County Circuit Judge Mark Lindsay sentenced Barber to 20 years at the Arkansas Department of Correction with 10 years suspended on the felony negligent homicide charge.

He was given a four- month sentence for driving on a suspended driver’s licence, a misdemeanor, which will run concurrently.

Barber was facing five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

According to an accident report, Wesson was riding in the front passenger seat of a 1992 Chevrolet Lumina. Barber was driving south when he ran off the right side of Viney Grove Road, near Bethel Blacktop Road, about 12:30 a.m. Police said he lost control, slid sideways and struck a tree on the passenger side.

Barber told police he was driving south when a silver Chevrolet pickup struck his vehicle. Police said Barber mentioned several times, without being asked, he wasn’t intoxicated and hadn’t done anything wrong.

An officer said Barber smelled of alcohol when he spoke with him at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.

According to court documents, Barber lied about being run off the road, how the accident occurred and who was driving.

A witness told police Barber was drinking motor oil prior to their arrival.