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Former Hamilton County paramedic, reserve deputy found guilty of vehicular homicide denied a new trial

Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Justin Whaley talks to his defense attorney, Lee Davis, during the opening day of Whaley’s trial in October at the Hamilton County-Chattanooga Courts Building. Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson denied Whaley's request for a new trial on Monday.
Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Justin Whaley talks to his defense attorney, Lee Davis, during the opening day of Whaley’s trial in October at the Hamilton County-Chattanooga Courts Building. Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson denied Whaley's request for a new trial on Monday. Staff file photo by Matt Hamilton / Justin Whaley talks to his defense attorney, Lee Davis, during the opening day of Whaley’s trial in October at the Hamilton County-Chattanooga Courts Building. Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson denied Whaley's request for a new trial on Monday.

By Sofia Saric 2 min read

A former Hamilton County paramedic found guilty of reckless vehicular homicide for a 2018 wrong-way crash was denied a new trial Monday.

Justin Whaley was sentenced Jan. 22 to nine years in prison for crashing into and killing James Brumlow in July 2018 on Highway 111. Four days later, his attorney filed a motion for a new trial.

The motion is a detailed list of errors attorney Lee Davis said occurred during Whaley’s jury trial. Davis plans to use the motion as a road map to appeal Whaley’s guilty verdict in a higher court.

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While Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson denied Whaley a new trial, he said Whaley presents himself as someone who was a responsible man prior to the fatal crash.