A Poolesville man was sentenced to 18 months in jail Friday for driving a pickup truck into a crowd at a Monrovia drag strip.
Justin Wachter, 25, was sentenced in Frederick County for one count of first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault. He must pay $7,000 in restitution to one of the victims, who was bruised and later developed a blood clot.
Maryland State Police arrested Wachter in June at the 75-80 Dragway.
The victim’s brother, who was also struck, told police that he had gotten into an argument with Wachter at the drag strip a year earlier.
Witnesses told police they saw Wachter drive directly into the crowd and then speed away, according to previous reports. The most seriously injured person was thrown 15 to 20 feet after being struck.
Police tracked down Wachter at his home. He was arrested and returned to the scene of the crash, where he was identified by one of the bystanders.
Wachter was convicted Tuesday after entering an Alford plea, in which the defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges the state had enough evidence for a conviction.
