A man who pled guilty to vehicular homicide by intoxication and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon in connection with a boating collision on Norris Lake last year that resulted in the death of a child has been sentenced to eight years in prison, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
On the evening of July 22, 2023, Norman Sturgill, 62, of Grayson, Kentucky, was operating a 19-foot Triton bass boat that collided with a 24-foot Chaparral open motorboat in front of Norris Landing Marina.
The collision resulted in the death of a 12-year-old child, Conner Catlett of Knoxville, onboard the Chaparral.
Following the incident, Sturgill’s Blood Alcohol Concentration was 0.198 percent, according to TWRA.
On Tuesday, Sturgill (pictured above) pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular homicide by intoxication and 12 counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. Criminal Court Judge Zack Walden sentenced Sturgill to serve eight years in jail at 100 percent and ordered him to pay a $5,000 contribution to the Victim’s Assessment Fund.
In addition, once he is released from prison, Sturgill is prohibited from operating any motorized vehicle, including boats, as a condition of supervised probation for eight years.
Sturgill’s boat involved in the fatal collision has been forfeited to the state.
Attorney Don Bosch, who represented the Catlett family in the case, commented on Tuesday’s sentencing, saying, “On behalf of the Catlett family, this conviction and immediate jail sentence brings some closure to them, although it never will bring their son, Connor, back to them.”
“At the very least, the Catlett family hopes that this speedy conviction and lengthy jail sentence will serve as a reminder that operating a boat impaired can have devastating consequences,” the attorney added.
In 2023, there were 23 boating fatalities and 129 Boating Under the Influence arrests, according to the TWRA. Since the beginning of this year, there have been three boating fatalities.
“Alcohol is the leading contributing factor to recreational boating deaths in Tennessee, and TWRA reminds the public to designate a sober driver and boat responsibly…TWRA officers will continue patrolling Tennessee waters to detect and apprehend impaired operators,” TWRA said.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Norman Sturgill” by Claiborne Co. Sheriff’s Office.
