TARA ANN MAHAN
Greenwood, S.C.; October 29, 2019 – A Fountain Inn woman was sentenced Monday to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to a felony DUI charge stemming from a June 2018 crash in Laurens County, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Tuesday morning.
Tara Ann Mahan, 35, pleaded guilty late Monday to one count of felony DUI resulting in death and one count of possession of methamphetamine. Circuit Judge Frank Addy Jr. then sentenced Mahan to 22 years in prison on the felony DUI charge and three years on prison on the drug possession charge with the sentences to run concurrently.
In June 2018, Mahan was traveling along S.C. 308 near Fleming Mill Road at about 2:15 p.m. when she struck a tractor from behind causing it to overturn. Her vehicle then ran off the left side of the road and struck a tree. The tractor was being driven by 29-year-old Wesley Robinson. Robinson was pronounced dead at the scene. A toxicology test showed Mahan had both methamphetamines and marijuana present in her system at the time of the crash.
Deputy Solicitor Warren Mowry and Assistant Solicitor Wade Dowtin handled the case for the state with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigator Walter Bentley and Victim Advocate Rhetta Christian. Mahan was represented by Tristan Shaffer of the Laurens Public Defender’s Office.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the work of his staff along with the state Highway Patrol in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.
“It is devastating to think about this hard-working young man being senselessly killed on our roads during the middle of the day by an intoxicated and completely unproductive young woman like Tara Mahan,” Solicitor Stumbo said. “It is my hope and prayer that Wesley Robinson’s family and friends can gain some sense of closure today.”