Jim Walsh, The Arizona Republic
A former Scottsdale police officer will spend five to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to drinking “way too much,” slamming into a sheriff’s deputy and fleeing from the scene in May.
Kevin Scott Baxter, 31, left Maricopa County sheriff’s Deputy Doug Matteson lying on the Superstition Freeway with injuries so severe that his left leg had to be amputated below the knee.
Baxter pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated assault and leaving the scene of a serious injury accident. He will be sentenced Feb. 3 by Superior Court Judge James Keppel.
Baxter, who resigned days after the May 1 collision, had a 0.173 percent blood-alcohol count more than three hours after he struck Matteson’s motorcycle from behind, Deputy County Attorney Keith Manning said.
That’s more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent at which Arizona drivers are presumed under the influence of alcohol.
Keppel allowed Baxter to remain free on bond at the request of Matteson’s civil attorney, Anthony Coury. Baxter has agreed to appear for a deposition in preparation for a possible civil suit, Coury said.
“We’re cooperating fully with the victim in this case, so we can do everything we can for him to be made whole or at least be compensated,” said Cameron Morgan, Baxter’s attorney.
Lt. Paul Chagolla, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said Matteson has returned to work. Matteson, who did not attend the hearing, has been assigned to a desk job, taking police reports by telephone.
Court records describe the makings of a tragedy waiting to happen.
Baxter picked up a friend from college, Brian Sturtecky, at Sky Harbor International Airport. They dropped off Sturtecky’s baggage at Baxter’s Gilbert home, and the men drove to Scottsdale and went bar hopping.
Sturtecky told police that they stopped drinking at 2 a.m. at Mickey’s Hangover and headed for Gilbert. Sturtecky said Baxter drank “way too much” before getting behind the wheel and that he also was inebriated.
Sturtecky said he was passed out in the passenger’s seat of Baxter’s green 1999 Ford Mustang when he heard a loud bang on U.S. 60 near Alma School Road.
“He saw bodies flying,” a state Department of Public Safety report said. The visitor from Chicago said he asked Baxter what he hit. The officer responded that he didn’t know.