Man guilty of homicide in 2019 crash

Bryant convicted of all but 1 charge in death of MCJHS teacher Harry Aultz

LEWISTOWN -- A jury found Stuart Wayne Bryant guilty of third-degree murder and related charges during the third day of a trial stemming from a devastating 2019 crash that killed Mifflin County Junior High School teacher and coach, Harry Aultz.

The verdict followed nearly three hours of deliberation on Friday at the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas.

"It was a terrible case where somebody lost their life," Mifflin County District Attorney Christopher Torquato said after the trial. "We certainly appreciate the attentiveness of the jury in evaluating the facts of the case. (Considering) the nature of the defense in the case, we felt a third-degree murder charge was appropriate. The jury apparently agreed after hearing all the evidence of the case. In the end, justice has been done for Harry Aultz and the family."

In addition to the third-degree murder charge, the jury found 61-year-old Bryant guilty of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, DUI: general impairment, DUI: highest rate of alcohol, four counts of recklessly endangering another person, two counts of causing an accident involving damage and related summary offenses.

The defendant was acquitted of one count of recklessly endangering another person.

Prior to deliberation, the jury heard closing arguments on charges given by Bryant's Harrisburg-based attorney Timothy Barrouck, from the McShane Firm and Torquato.

Barrouck questioned the legitimacy of Bryant's third-degree murder charge, explaining that the charge requires the commonwealth to prove malicious intent.

"Malice is more than gross negligence" he said.

The attorney explained that third-degree murder would be the equivalent of pointing a gun at a crowd.

"When you see that, you call the police immediately because you know what is about to happen," he said.

Barrouck stated that he had no argument regarding whether Bryant was guilty of involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle or reckless endangerment.

"I know it and he knows it this behavior is not acceptable," Barrouck said of the Coatesville defendant. "But he is 100 percent not guilty of malice."

Barrouck stated that Bryant's homicide while DUI charge was also "questionable" because state law determines that blood alcohol levels must be drawn within two hours of an incident occurring.

Bryant's BAC, which was estimated to be .283 percent when the crash occurred at 6:45 p.m. Jan. 28, 2019, was drawn more than four hours after the crash.

Barrouck also questioned what evidence existed to suggest that alcohol was what caused Bryant's behavior.

"Was it alcohol, was it something else?" he said. "We don't know if he was lost or if he was having some sort of a mental breakdown…"

During his closing statement, Torquato argued that Bryant's BAC was nearly four times that legal limit when the crash occurred.

Torquato referred to testimony made by Dr. Greg Swartzentruber, toxicology specialist with UPMC Pinnacle, who stated that high of a concentration would make him incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle.

Torquato continued, stating that there were extenuating circumstances that prevented Bryant from getting his blood drawn within the two-hour time frame.

"The defendant was so intoxicated he just didn't care. If someone was operating a motor vehicle at .283 BAC in excess of 100 mph speeding and crossing into opposite lane of travel -- those are all products of his intoxication that led to the death of Harry Aultz."

The trial was overseen by President Judge David Barron.

A presentencing investigation will be held prior to sentencing, which is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 11.

Bryant is being held in Mifflin County Correctional Facility without bail.