Justin Whaley sentenced to nine years in state prison

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The former Hamilton County EMT who was convicted in October of vehicular manslaughter by intoxication, found out his sentence Monday. 

It was a highly emotional day in court as the family of James Brumlow got to address Justin Whaley, who killed Brumlow in a wrong-way crash in Soddy-Daisy in 2018.

The anger was apparent from the family of James Brumlow as they learned on Monday that Justin Whaley was sentenced to nine years in a state prison.

Justin Whaley testifying at his sentencing hearing, attempting to apologize to the Brumlow family, who told him not to. He would be sentenced to 9 years in state prison.

Brumlow’s mother-in-law told Whaley, “I hope your life is a living hell. Hell on earth. Your plans, your dreams, shattered… No mercy, no forgiveness, you are a dead zero loser.”

Ryan Brumlow, James Brumlow’s son, told Whaley sternly, “I want to spare anyone any chance, any even thought of a apology because neither my family or me could not care less for it. Over the past five and a half years there were ample opportunities. Now is not the time because you have had the time to sit by yourself and think about it.”

However, Whaley himself took the stand, begging for forgiveness.

He pleaded while sobbing, “I’m sorry! I know there’s nothing I can do to bring him back …There isn’t a day that goes by that I wish that I was the one who died!”

 While Whaley’s defense attempted to argue that Whaley’s intentions that July 20-18 morning were not to place anyone else in danger, Hamilton County Judge Boyd Patterson said Whaley should have known better.

Judge Patterson said, “I do think your experience as an EMT and a officer would, should have kept you much further away from the line where if you were in doubt at all, you should not have driven.”

For Brumlow’s family, no sentence will erase the trauma this has caused them.

Brumlow’s sister said, “Your lack of regard for the consequences of your actions has caused us, my family, me, looking at you right now, hurt and trauma that I will live with and live through every day of my life until I die as well.”

This case is not completely over.

Whaley’s defense attorney filed a motion for a new trial at the end of today’s hearing as he says they are starting the appeal process. That will be heard in March.