Teen sentenced to 3-15 years in tow truck driver's death

Just before Jason Schultz left his home Jan. 15, he told his son “he’d be right back."

But the 28-year-old man never returned from towing a vehicle out of the ditch, and his children still watch for their dad to come home, said his widow, Amanda Schultz.

“They lost their hero,” she said Friday in Circuit Judge Daniel Kelly’s courtroom.

Jason Schultz’s widow, his parents and siblings addressed Kelly in a packed courtroom Friday during the sentencing for the Fort Gratiot teen charged in Jason's death.

Eighteen-year-old Trent Sheldon was sentenced to 3 to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty March 1 to operating while intoxicated causing death. He also was ordered to pay restitution to Cody Hilliker, who was injured in the Jan.15 crash that killed Jason Schultz.

A Preferred Towing truck was parked outside the courthouse Friday during sentencing. People wearing armbands and T-shirts in support of Jason Schultz packed the courtroom and flowed into the hallway.

Dressed in orange and wearing chains around his wrists and ankles, Sheldon apologized to the families impacted by the crash.

“I’m willing to do whatever I can to give them some sort of peace,” Sheldon said. “I am so, so sorry for what I’ve done and I hope both the Schultz and Hilliker families know my prayers are with them for the rest of my life.”

Dan Damman, Sheldon’s lawyer, said guilt and remorse have been the driving force in Sheldon’s life since the crash.

“Here, everyone has lost something,” Damman said. “Everyone is experiencing a sense of loss, but to varying degrees.

“…There are no winners in this room. There is only an immeasurable sense of loss, hurt, pain and suffering.”

Jason Schultz’s widow, parents and siblings described Jason as great father, sibling and friend. They expressed the pain they felt knowing Jason Schultz would not be there for the family’s future.

A statement from Jacob Schultz, Jason’s brother, was read by victims rights coordinator Sheryl Eckert.

“I don’t know how I’ll make it through without him,” the statement said. “I miss him. I want him back. I don’t think there will ever be closure for me.”

Michele Atkins, Jason Schultz’s mother, said she couldn’t stop thinking about the crash that took her son’s life and Sheldon’s actions following the crash.

She said her son lived and died like a hero.

“All we have left of Jason are his three beautiful children and our memories,” Atkins said.

“I’ve not only lost my son. I’ve had to watch a part of my two other children die as well.”

Hilliker questioned whether Sheldon was truly sorry for the crash that took a father from his children far too soon.

“I am thankful that I get to go home to my wife and kids, and a mom and dad still have a son,” Hilliker said.

Amanda Schultz said she hoped Sheldon would get help while serving his time and, one day, help others.

“I realize this was an accident and not intentional and it was a horrible mistake,” Amanda Schultz said.

“We all want justice for Jason, but we don’t want a crucifixion. We just want justice.”

Before sentencing Sheldon, Kelly said Jason Schultz's death was a needless tragedy. He said he was guided by the pre-sentence report from probation and victims' statements in deciding Sheldon's sentence.

"No matter what sentence I impose I know it will be far too lenient for some and maybe unnecessarily harsh in the minds of others," Kelly said.

"There is no sentence that I can impose that will heal the hurt and the pain that you feel.”

Officials have said Sheldon used marijuana prior to driving the morning of Jan. 15. Sheldon hit Preferred Towing’s Jason Schultz, who was attempting to tow Hilliker's vehicle out of a west ditch.

Jason Schultz’s tow truck was facing northbound in the southbound lane of North Road with emergency lights activated about 6:30 a.m. Jan. 15, officials said. Sheldon was southbound on North Road when he swerved to the right onto the shoulder to avoid the tow truck, hitting Jason Schultz, the tow cable and stuck vehicle before coming to a rest in the east ditch.

Hilliker, who was in the stuck vehicle, was injured and taken to McLaren Port Huron for treatment. He also addressed the judge Friday.

Sheldon’s $250,000 personal recognizance bond was revoked Monday after lab tests confirmed he’d used marijuana while out on bond.

More than 250 tow truck drivers joined Schultz's funeral procession Jan. 20.

Contact Beth LeBlanc at (810) 989-6259 or eleblanc@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @THBethLeBlanc.