A Gainesville man pleaded guilty last month to leaving the scene of a fiery wreck that caused serious injuries, according to court documents. But his fiancee, who was the passenger in the car, said she would likely not be alive if not for his actions. Brandan Lee Stevens, 37, pleaded guilty Nov. 4 to felony hit-and-run among other charges. Superior Court Judge Kathlene Gosselin sentenced him to five years with the first six months to serve in custody. Stevens’ expected release date from the Hall County Jail is Dec. 26, and the remainder of the sentence may be on probation.
Alexis Criswell, who is now engaged to Stevens, told The Times they had gone out to dinner that night and that there was a mechanical issue with the car leading to the crash. Hall County deputies and firefighters were called out around 11:50 p.m. Feb. 21, 2023 to the intersection of Southers and Greencrest roads, where the Corvette had hit a tree. Firefighters had to extricate Criswell from the car, according to the Sheriff’s Office. But Criswell said it was Stevens that kicked the door open and pulled her out of the vehicle. “If it wasn’t for that, I’d be dead right now,” Criswell said. Criswell suffered burns and fractures from the wreck.
“It is my understanding, too, that he made sure law enforcement was on the scene before he left as well,” defense attorney Jennifer Scalia said. Stevens was found nearly eight months later around Mountain View Road by a deputy patrolling the area. Stevens was also charged with failure to maintain lane, too fast for conditions and having an open container. Stevens also pleaded guilty to a separate case alleging possession of methamphetamine. Gosselin sentenced him to 6 years with the first six months in custody, a sentence that will run concurrently with the hit-and-run case. Stevens also faces $1,002.50 in fines and surcharges. He was previously charged with serious injury by vehicle and reckless driving, but those charges were dismissed by the prosecution before his plea.
Scalia noted the area has seen a number of wrecks that do not lead to reckless driving charges. “I think it would have been a really hard case for the state to prove without having any contact with Mr. Stevens that evening,” Scalia said. “Our contention is that he wasn’t under the influence that evening.” Criswell said she has recovered like nothing ever happened. She said she believed Stevens to be one of the most genuine people to have come out of Gainesville. “He would stop to help somebody on the side of the road to change a tire,” Criswell said. “That’s just the kind of person he is.”
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