Written by Whitley Kilcrease

A Troy woman recently indicted by a grand jury faces up to five years in prison if convicted of vehicular homicide.

Lisa Bryant Shipman, 48, of Troy turned herself in Monday after being indicted by a grand jury on a class C felony charge of homicide by vehicle or vessel, in which she is accused of driving under the influence as well as ignoring a reduced speed warning.

Her husband, George Albert Shipman, was killed in a car accident near Banks on Dec. 16, 2011, when the 2008 Nissan truck his wife was driving failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway and struck a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas said Shipman, accompanied by her attorney, turned herself into authorities at 11:46 a.m. Monday. She has since posted bond and been released.

According to District Attorney Tom Anderson, Shipman was not immediately arrested following the incident because the results of toxicology and forensics tests were not available.

The investigation by state troopers uncovered information at a later date that led to a direct presentation of evidence before a grand jury last week.

Anderson said the statute under which Shipman is charged states that any person convicted of vehicular homicide faces one to five years in prison as well as a monetary fine ranging from $500 to $2,000.

Shipman’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Aug. 31 at the Pike County courthouse. There is no indication if she will appear or waive the right to arraignment.

“I don’t want to go into too much detail,” Anderson said, “If I discuss certain aspects of the case, it could have an effect on the outcome of the trial.”

The recent grand jury also heard testimony in several other cases. Andre Lamon Ellis, who is accused of raping two women at Hunter’s Mountain Mobile Estates, has been indicted on two counts of first-degree rape and second-degree burglary. He remains in the Pike County Jail.

Records also indicate Parrish Jerome Bean and Deanna Shantrese McLeod have been indicted on two counts of attempted murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and felony murder. The two are accused of aiding in a home invasion on March 5 that left two people with injuries requiring surgery and also lead to the death of accused robber and assailant Thomas White.

John D. Mendenhall, accused of invading the homes of two elderly residents in November 2011, has been indicted on first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.

In theft cases, Al Joseph Felder, accused of vandalizing vending machines outside businesses in Brundidge, was indicted on two counts of third-degree theft of property, two counts of criminal mischief third-degree and possession of burglar’s tools.

Sherry Gosha, a former employee of Cashland in Troy, was indicted on a first-degree theft of property charge. Nineteen paid accounts at Cashland were reopened with the money from the accounts taken between September 2011 and March 2012.

All accused individuals are also scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 31, where the accused will appear before the court and be given the classification of offenses and a range of possible punishments, while those without an attorney will be appointed one at this time.