Man Found Guilty in Claiborne County Boating Crash that Killed 12-Year-Old

Connor Catlett, 12, died in the crash while two other boaters were knocked into the water and had to swim to shore, TWRA said. Norman Joe Sturgill in court Tuesday. (Courtesy: WVLT)

Man Found Guilty in Claiborne County Boating Crash that Killed 12-Year-Old

Claiborne County, TN (WOKI) A man is found guilty Tuesday in a Claiborne County boat crash on Norris Lake that killed a 12-year-old child.

Norman Joe Sturgill was sentenced on 13 charges to include vehicular homicide by intoxication and several counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.

He was ordered to serve eight years in prison followed by eight years on probation. In addition to the time served, Sturgill was ordered to pay $5,000 to a fund for the victims, pay court costs, forfeit his boat and everything on board, face a 10-year driver’s license suspension and take alcohol and drug assessments randomly during his probation.

According to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officials, Sturgill was boating on July 22, 2023, when he crashed into another boat near Norris Landing Marina. Twelve year old Connor Catlett died in the crash while two other boaters were knocked into the water and had to swim to shore, TWRA said.

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