Decorah man sentenced to ten years in prison in the death of a Calmar woman

Decorah resident Jay Jermier has been sentenced to ten years in prison on two criminal charges stemming from the September 28th, 2012 death of a Calmar woman.
 
Jermier, who is 45 years old, was accused of having a blood alcohol reading above the legal limit when his motorcycle went out of control on Highway 52 just north of Calmar in a road construction zone in 2012.  44-year-old Trish Taylor of Calmar, a passenger on Jermier's motorcycle, was killed in the resulting crash.
 
Tuesday afternoon Judge Margaret Lingreen accepted a plea agreement in the case under which Jermier plead guilty to a Class C felony of homicide by vehicle and an aggravated misdemeanor of second offense Operating While Intoxicated.  Judge Lingreen imposed a ten year prison term on the first count and a two year prison term on the second count, but ordered the sentences to run at the same time.

Before imposing the verdict, Judge Lingreen allowed family members of Trish Taylor to make statements.  Taylor's oldest son, Ronnie Chenault, stated, "I cannot forgive you" and blamed Jermier for choosing to operate a motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol.  Taylor's mother, Sharon Johnson, told Jermier, "One day you will get out of prison--but my daughter will not."  She added that no parent should have to bury her only child.

Jermier apologized to the Taylor family when it came his turn to speak, saying "I never meant to hurt anyone--I'm so sorry."  "I broke the law and made a mistake," he told the judge.

Judge Lingreen said she believed Jermier was sincere in his grief, "but your grief cannot bring back Ms. Taylor."

The judge ordered Jermier taken into custody and transported to Oakdale.  Bond has been set at $35,000 for any appeal.