Maine Maritime Academy in Castine. Staff file photo by John Patriquin

A passenger in the crash that killed four Maine Maritime Academy students in December 2022 pleaded guilty Friday under a deal with prosecutors to avoid jail time.

Noelle Tavares, of Falmouth, Mass., appeared in Hancock County Superior Court Friday afternoon to plead guilty to furnishing alcohol to a minor resulting in death, a Class C felony, in exchange for a deferred disposition of two years, meaning the offense will be dismissed if it follows a set of rules ordered by the court.

She must be evaluated for a substance use disorder and undergo any recommended treatment and must not consume or possess alcohol. Tavares will also have to address the next two freshman classes at Maine Maritime Academy about the dangers of drunk driving, speaking from her personal experience.

The Accident from December 2022 on Route 166 in Castine killed Brian Kenealy, 20, of York; Chase Fossett, 21, of Gardiner; Luke Simpson, 22, of Rockport, Massachusetts; and Riley Ignacio-Cameron, 20, of Aquinnah, Massachusetts.

Although Tavares was not driving the vehicle, she was accused of being a “co-conspirator” in the crash because she allegedly gave the driver, Joshua Goncalves-Radding, the keys and bought alcohol with a fake ID before accident.

She was initially charged with manslaughter, operating under the influence and several other charges, all of which she pleaded not guilty to in August 2023.

According to the new plea agreement, some family members of the four victims asked the court for leniency and forgiveness for Tavares and Goncalves-Radding, who were good friends with the other students.

“Some of the surviving family members have expressed that they do not want Ms. Tavares to suffer serious consequences that would forever hinder her chances of success in life,” the settlement states.

Classmates, teammates and other friends sign a card in December 2022 during a vigil for Chase Fossett at Gardiner Area High School. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

If he complies with the conditions, he will be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea and instead plead to a misdemeanor charge, paying a $500 fine and donating $1,000 to Students Against Destructive Decisions.

If she does not comply with the conditions, she will be convicted of the felony charge, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.

“I wish you all the best,” Judge Patrick Larson told Tavares. “You have a bright future. You can’t let a momentary lapse in judgment affect the way you are. People will judge you from here on out, but let them judge you for who you are.”

Hancock County District Attorney Bob Granger said Tavares wasn’t the only person who bought alcohol the night of the crash, which “presented some evidentiary issues” if the case goes to trial.

“It’s been two years and everybody wanted to get this matter over and done with,” Granger said in an interview after the hearing. “I definitely think Ms. Tavares wanted some closure. … It is a good result, we are satisfied with it. The families were happy with that.”

Goncalves-Radding, 21, of North Babylon, New York, was driving the six friends home from the G-Force bar in Bangor while under the influence of alcohol. He was driving at over 100 km/h when he lost control of the car, which then hit a tree and burst into flames.

Four of the passengers died on impact, while the other three, including Goncalves-Radding, escaped and were sent to hospital with serious injuries, court documents show.

Goncalves-Radding was convicted in June for multiple counts of manslaughter, aggravated operating under the influence. He is currently serving a three-year prison sentence.

According to court documents, Dominick Gecoya of Middleton, Massachusetts gave Tavares the key to his father’s 2013 Land Rover. She allegedly called Gecoya after the accident to apologize for “letting Josh drive that night.”

Gecoya was originally charged with a list of crimes similar to Tavares and Goncalves-Radding, but is no longer charged.

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