CASE INVOLVING 1 1/2 YEAR LAKE TRAGEDY COMES TO AN END
	On Friday, October 21, 2004, during what was supposed to be a pre-trial hearing in preparation for a November 1, jury trial Robert N. Corrigan III, a 29 year-old real estate salesman from San Antonio, opted for a trial before 33rd Judicial District Judge Guilford Jones.  Corrigan pled guilty to the offense of Failure to Stop and Render Assistance, a Texas Parks and Wildlife felony which carries a penalty of 2 years up to 10 years in the penitentiary and a fine of from $2000 to $10,000.       Charges resulted from a tragedy that occurred on Memorial Day weekend after 2:00 AM, May 26, 2003 on the Llano County side of Lake LBJ, near the lighthouse area.  A power boat being operated by Corrigan ran into and over the top of a power boat occupied by Jerry Neil Cypert, Justin Lee Moore, and Laura Lee Putnam, a 23 year-old Texas Tech graduate and recent fiancée of Moore.  The impact knocked Ms. Putnam out of the boat where it was later determined her death resulted from drowning.  Her body was not recovered until June 8, 2003, some fifteen days later, after a long search by area game wardens and other assisting law enforcement agencies.       Patrolling game wardens on June 17, 2003 noticed a boat suspended in dry dock at a lakeside home owned by the Dawson family of San Antonio that matched the description given by the two surviving young men.  The wardens also noticed propeller damage later found consistent with fragments found in the boat from which Ms. Putnam had been thrown.  A search warrant was served and the boat was taken to the Department of Public Safety laboratory in Austin.       Corrigan was arrested after a thorough investigation on October 1, 2003, while dove hunting near Pearsall, Texas.  Corrigan was one of the family friends of the Dawson’s who had access to the suspect boat that Memorial Day weekend.  All other persons that were there came forward and cooperated with authorities in trying to find the operator of the boat during the early morning hours of May 26.  Corrigan failed to do so.  Through subsequent investigation and witness statements, he became the prime suspect.  A number of days went by during the investigation when witnesses visiting a lakeside home in the area were found who gave evidence placing Corrigan as the operator of the boat around the time of the accident.       Corrigan took his chances with the court, opting to waive a jury and have the judge assess punishment.  Under Texas law, that is the choice of the accused in all criminal cases.  There was no plea bargain offered by the State.       The court handed down a sentence of ten years deferred adjudication (a form of probation), a $10,000 fine, a three year Memorial Day curfew, and 180 days to be served in the Burnet County Intermediate Sanction Facility.       District Attorney Sam Oatman and First Assistant Tom Cloudt handled the proceedings for the State.  Judd Putnam and wife Betty, the parents of Laura, and son Phillip were present and gave Victim Impact Statements.       “This was the first case of its kind resulting in a conviction in Texas,” said Oatman.  “There was never any evidence of intent, negligence or criminal act concerning the boat accident.  The crime was leaving the scene.  The law requires a person involved in a boat accident resulting in death or injury to stay at the scene and give information to occupants of the other motor craft and give assistance in whatever way possible.  The reason Corrigan left the scene was determined for the first time when he gave his account after pleading guilty before the Judge.  He merely stated he was “nervous”.  His pleading guilty was sufficient for a conviction.” Col. James Stinebaugh, director of law enforcement at Texas Parks and Wildlife expressed his satisfaction after the court proceedings on Friday.  “This case was extremely difficult and heartrenching for everyone involved.  However, this is part of the job of all game wardens who work lake patrol. I am extremely proud of the investigative skills and the tireless hours demonstrated by our wardens who saw this case through from start to finish.  This was a multi- agency investigation with cooperation from many other agencies in the area including Horseshoe Bay Police Department, Llano County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Rangers.”