Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen announced today that Everett R. Hatlee (DOB 09/16/2005), of Troy, NY, pled guilty on June 13, 2025 before the Honorable James R. Davis in Saratoga County Court to one count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a Class “B” Felony in violation of New York State Penal Law Section 125.14(5), in connection with a June 29, 2024 fatal vehicular crash.
Everett Hatlee pleaded guilty and admitted in Court his actions on the early evening of June 29, 2024, when he recklessly operated a motor vehicle while impaired by cannabis along Fonda Road in Waterford and while so doing caused the death of his 15-year-old female passenger and serious physical injury to his 16-year-old male passenger. On that night, Defendant Hatlee was travelling at an incredibly high rate of speed southbound on Fonda Road when he lost control of his vehicle, causing it to leave the roadway and become airborne. The force of the crash catapulted Defendant Hatlee’s vehicle from the roadway where it flipped and spun through the night air, ferociously colliding with the ground multiple times and smashing through several utility poles, causing the poles to break in half, before coming to a rest a significant distance down the roadway. The horrific force of the crash and subsequent collision with the utility poles caused serious physical injuries to his 16-year-old male passenger and tragically took the life of his 15-year-old female passenger, who was ejected from the vehicle and died on scene from her injuries. The 16-year-old male and 15-year-old female were siblings and unrelated to Defendant Hatlee, who was not injured in the crash.
The subsequent investigation revealed that Defendant Hatlee had spent the hours leading up to (and even in the seconds before) the crash smoking cannabis, and a subsequent test of his blood revealed him to have been significantly impaired by that drug at the time of the crash.
In speaking on today’s plea, District Attorney Heggen reaffirmed her commitment against impaired and reckless driving and said, “While we are grateful for today’s outcome, this case nevertheless shows the incredibly tragic consequences that come from the toxic mix of speeding and driving recklessly, all while impaired by cannabis. The lives of three young people, their families and communities have all been profoundly affected by Defendant Hatlee’s criminal choice to combine all three of these toxic elements. There is simply no excuse for this senseless and completely unnecessary crime, let alone where it claims the life of an innocent child and seriously injures another.”
The District Attorney’s Office has been in contact with the victims’ family throughout the course of this case, and their input had been a valuable consideration during the process. D.A. Heggen said, “We, along with the Ebert family, are pleased that Defendant Hatlee has finally chosen to accept responsibility for his actions.” D.A. Heggen noted the strength of the Ebert family throughout this process and “the fact that we were able to bring this family closure and justice without the need for them to relive that horrible night through trial was likewise a victory today.”
D.A. Heggen recognized the efforts of Vehicular Crimes Bureau Chief Matthew R. Coseo and Assistant District Attorney Robert V. Conklin, who prosecuted the case, as well as District Attorney Investigator Mark Sauter and Crime Victim Specialist Mollie Benware. D.A. Heggen likewise recognized the efforts of the Waterford Police Department and Officer Matthew Gibbins, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department and Deputy Christopher Hallenbeck, the New York State Park Police and Sergeant Christopher Greene, as well as the New York State Police and New York State Police Lab. “I commend the excellent and thorough work of ADAs Coseo and Conklin, which began that evening at the scene of the crash and has continued through to today. This result would not have been possible without the assistance of and collaboration with our law enforcement colleagues across the different agencies, and our Saratoga County community is fortunate to have such dedicated professionals standing at the ready all times day and night.”
Sentencing is scheduled for August 25, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. The Defendant is expected to be sentenced to a state prison term of between five (5) to fifteen (15) years of incarceration. In addition, the Defendant’s driver’s license will be revoked.