BREAKING: Mississippi man sentenced to 12 years in prison for fatal boat crash that killed 19-year-old

A South Mississippi man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the role he played in the boating death of a teenage woman in Hancock County.

As we reported earlier this month, a Hancock County jury found 47-year-old Eugene Butler Jr., guilty of manslaughter back on October 4th in the 2016 boat crash that killed 19-year-old Vanessa Mauffray.

Hancock County officials believe Vanessa was crabbing with her boyfriend on Bayou Caddy when Butler sped around a curve and broadsided their 15-foot vessel.

A blood test, given to Butler hours after the crash, came back positive for THC, which is the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana.

During the trial, witness testimony revealed Butler had not been looking forward in the moments before the fatal crash occurred.