Valley resident changes plea; Case involved a fatality in a March of 2015 auto accident

PALMER — A Wasilla man accused of crossing the centerline and triggering an accident that killed one person and injured three others in March 2015 has pleaded guilty to the crime.

Trenton Shepersky, 23, had previously been indicted for his role in the crash that took the life of Camille J. Plancher, 26, of France, and injured Alex Violet of France, Misa Shimiza Of Japan and Beryl Vignery, 30 of British Columbia. Authorities had originally charged Shepersky with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, then added one count each of third-degree assault and driving under the influence. Shepersky pleaded guilty to the criminally negligent homicide, and assault charges Wednesday. Shepersky also stipulated an aggravating factor in the case, meaning a jury will not decide whether the aggravator applies in the case.

As a result, Shepersky faces a probable sentencing range of between one and three years, with a potential maximum sentence of 12 years, based on his past history, according to presiding judge Eric Smith. Shepersky has a single past misdemeanor conviction for sixth-degree drugs misconduct stemming from a 2013 case in which he pleaded guilty.

Shepersky spoke only when spoken to at Wednesday’s hearing, which lasted less than ten minutes. Shepersky will likely be sentenced in October by Smith’s successor in an open sentencing.

Since his arraignment in July 2015, Shepersky has been out of jail on a $50,000 unsecured bond, with his mother, a local contract painter as his court-appointed third-party custodian.

Prosecutors also alleged at Shepersky’s indictment hearing that his blood test contained evidence of marijuana and cocaine use, and the car had 199 empty “whippet” containers, or containers containing nitrous oxide, which may be used recreationally.

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.

Correction: This story originally misstated the charges Shepersky pleaded to.