Chautauqua County EMS and fire crews are pictured in July 2021 on Interstate 86, the scene of a wrong-way fatal crash. Photo by the Bemus Point Fire Department

MAYVILLE — A Georgia woman was found guilty on three counts tied to a July 2021 crash that claimed the life of a Cattaraugus County resident.

Family of Heather Capell and Bradley Wakefield were in Chautauqua County Court on Monday as the verdict was read aloud.

Following a two-week trial in front of County Court Judge David Foley, Capell was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and driving while ability impaired by a combination of drugs/alcohol. She was found not guilty on the most serious charge, second-degree manslaughter.

Jurors deliberated for about an hour Monday, sending two notes to the court. The first asked Foley to read aloud again the explanation of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. The second note asked for the definition of recklessness.

The case went to the jury Friday afternoon after about three total hours of closing arguments from the county’s public defender and district attorney.

Heather Capell

Capell, 33, was traveling east in the westbound lane of Interstate 86 when she struck another vehicle being operated by Wakefield. The 52-year-old man was on his way to work when the head-on collision occurred around 5 a.m. in the town of North Harmony. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A resident of Brunswick, Ga., Capell was charged not long after the crash and has remained jailed in Mayville unable to post bail.

The trial began Oct. 3 in County Court before Foley.

As the verdict was read Monday, the families of Capell and Wakefield both appeared emotional.

Afterward, Jason Schmidt, Chautauqua County district attorney, said he had mixed feelings about the verdict. He believed the prosecution had been able to prove reckless conduct necessary for a second-degree manslaughter conviction.

“The jury felt otherwise,” Schmidt told The Post-Journal, later adding, “You have to respect the jury’s decision. It’s very upsetting for the family of Bradley Wakefield. We really wanted this for them.”

Schmidt noted the hard work and collaboration with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office that went into the case. “This is one that we all worked on very hard together,” he said.

Ned Barone, Chautauqua County public defender and Capell’s attorney, said he was pleased with the not guilty acquittal on the most serious charge. He said Capell already has served more than a year in jail while her case was waiting to go to trial.

“Basically, this allows her to move on, it does,” Barone said. “You’re always looking for the acquittal. I was just concerned about that (manslaughter charge). That’s what worried me.”

She could have been sentenced up to 15 years for a conviction of manslaughter. Instead, a conviction on second-degree vehicular manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. Foley set sentencing for Dec. 19.

Carol Sturla, Capell’s mother, said she was grateful to Barone and his office for their handling of the case and for the treatment of her daughter by jail staff. She also offered words of sympathy to Wakefield’s family.

“My heart just goes out for the family of Mr. Bradley Wakefield — my heart goes out to them,” she said. “I know this has been a difficult year and a half for them.”

Sturla said her daughter has always wanted to accept responsibility for her actions.

“She’s never wanted to just get off,” she said. “She feels very remorseful, but I think she’s just ready to get on with her life in a more positive way.”

Prosecutors alleged that Capell was impaired by marijuana and methamphetamine and was reckless when she drove more than 9 miles in the wrong direction, passing “Do Not Enter” and “One Way” signs at the entrance of the interstate in Sherman.

A urine sample from Capell came back positive for marijuana and amphetamine/methamphetamine.

Capell had driven up to Buffalo to visit a friend with the plan of both traveling back to Georgia together. The two stayed at the friend’s place of employment, described as a strip club, for several hours on June 30, 2021, before Capell decided to drive back alone during the early morning hours.

It was during that drive that Capell reportedly became lost. During the trial, a call she made to 911 for directions was played.

Barone called the crash a “tragic accident” and not the result of impairment.