LAFAYETTE, Tenn. — A Macon County man convicted of causing a deadly crash while driving under the influence has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, the maximum penalty allowed. Devin Slayton, 31, was responsible for the tragic crash that took the life of beloved Macon County deputy, Sergeant William Cherry, on July 29, 2023.
The incident occurred just after midnight on Highway 10 in Lafayette when Slayton’s 2013 Ford F-150 crossed the center line and collided head-on with Sgt. Cherry’s 2020 Dodge Durango. Authorities reported that Slayton had been drinking before getting behind the wheel, and a blood alcohol test revealed a level of 0.154, nearly twice the legal limit.
Following the crash, Slayton was indicted by a Macon County Grand Jury in October 2023 on charges of DUI and vehicular homicide. In November 2024, Slayton pled guilty to the charge of vehicular homicide by intoxication. On February 13, 2025, he was sentenced to 12 years in a state prison without the possibility of parole.
Sgt. Cherry, a dedicated law enforcement officer, was deeply loved by his family and the Macon County community. The loss has had a lasting impact, not just on his family but also on the many lives he touched through his service. In the wake of his death, News 2 worked with the community to raise $20,000 for the Cherry family, which they used to establish a scholarship in his name.
During the sentencing hearing, Cherry’s widow, who had been left to raise their family without her husband, shared a powerful victim impact statement. She described the overwhelming grief of losing a partner, father, and mentor, saying, “The irresponsible inexcusable decision you made to drink and drive… took the life of Sergeant William Jace Cherry. I don’t just grieve his absence, I grieve the life we shared.”
She continued, highlighting the pain of not just her loss, but the toll it took on their children, grandchildren, and even his parents, who lost their only child. “We grieve so many things from the loss of my person because when someone dies, it is never just a person we grieve. We grieve all.”
In the wake of the sentencing, Cherry’s widow expressed a sense of justice, stating, “It doesn’t bring back William or lessen our grief but we are thankful.”
15th Judicial District Attorney Jason Lawson also spoke following the hearing, expressing his appreciation for the court’s careful consideration of the case. “I hope that the sentence will bring as much justice as the law allows to Sgt. Cherry’s family and to the community he served,” Lawson said.
Though Slayton will serve his sentence in full, the lasting emotional toll of this tragedy will remain on the Cherry family and the community. The loss of Sgt. Cherry, a man who was not just an officer but a beloved family member, mentor, and friend, continues to be felt by all who knew him.
