CULLMAN, Ala. – Brett Steven Amerson of Morris, Alabama, who was convicted of reckless murder in Cullman County back in April, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, was sentenced to 131 years in prison by Cullman County Circuit Court Judge Martha Williams.
The conviction and sentence, which were also for DUI and other charges, stem from a hit-and-run crash in December 2018 that took the life of Bradley Ray Patterson, 39, of Holly Pond.
At the time of the crash, according to Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker, Amerson had 11 previous DUI arrests. Crocker said he and his assistant district attorneys asked for the maximum sentence due to “Mr. Amerson’s egregious crime and lengthy criminal history.”
Crocker’s office said members of the Patterson family were present and delivered victim impact statements.
As The Tribune reported in April 2023:
“This conviction is a result of the December 18, 2018 DUI crash on Highway 157 near the 310 exit overpass. Amerson was driving a box truck while intoxicated at three times the legal limit. Amerson crashed into Mr. Patterson who was operating a motorcycle with the right of way. Mr. Amerson had 11 previous DUI arrests,” said an online statement from Cullman County District Attorney Champ Crocker.
The four-day trial began Monday, April 17, and was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Greg Johnson and Assistant District Attorney Nate Brock.
“I would first like thank the jury for their important service and all the City of Cullman Police Department who did a great job preparing this case. The evidence at trial proved the defendant was triple-drunk and driving recklessly when the crash happened,” Crocker posted. “I am also so proud we achieved justice for the family of Bradley Patterson. His family contacted our office within just a few days of us taking office in January and asked us to review this case. I felt an obligation to see this 2018 case be one of the first cases tried after taking office so that justice could be served.”
As The Tribune reported in December 2018:
According to Cullman Police Lt. Jeff Warnke, Patterson, driving a newer model Harley Davidson motorcycle, was traveling southbound on Hwy. 157 at approximately 5 p.m. when he was struck by a white 1998 GMC box truck that failed to yield the right of way when turning left onto Interstate 65 South. The driver of the truck, identified as Amerson, did not stop, instead continuing onto the interstate, prompting the Cullman Police Department to issue an alert to area law enforcement agencies in an effort to locate the vehicle.
Shortly before 7:30, Amerson was located, 21 miles away from the scene off I-65 Exit 291. Sgt. Cindy Rohrscheib said the truck was found at a truck stop off of Alabama Highway 91.
Read more on the background of the crime and Amerson’s criminal history at www.cullmantribune.com/2018/12/21/hit-and-run-driver-charged-with-murder.
