A 32-year-old man entered a guilty plea Monday for a fatal crash that claimed the life of a broadcaster traveling to Statesboro after working a high school football game.
Claudio Manuel Perez Perez was arrested in August 2024 for a fatal crash on Highway 301 in Bulloch County. Warrants taken out by the Georgia State Patrol after the wreck alleged that Perez operated a Ford 150 while under the influence of alcohol and caused a motor vehicle crash that resulted in the death of Johnathan Wayne Vreeland. He was also charged with Serious Injury By Vehicle, Driving Without a License, Failing to Yield Right of Way, Improper Use of Turning Lane, and Seatbelt Violation.
Bond was denied for Perez and he remained behind bars for the duration of his court case. A Bulloch County grand jury indicted him on a host on the slew of charges in November 2024, to include:
- Homicide by Vehicle in the 1st degree – Causing the crash that claimed the life of Johnathan Vreeland – rising to a felony offense because he was driving under the influence of alcohol
- Homicide by Vehicle in the 1st degree – Causing the crash that claimed the life of Johnathan Vreeland – rising to a felony offense because he was driving recklessly when he drove his F150 without headlights down the center turn lane on Highway 301.
- Serious Injury by Vehicle – Causing serious injury to another person, Joseph Stuckey, while under the influence of alcohol
- Serious Injury by Vehicle – Causing serious injury to another person, Joseph Stuckey, while driving recklessly by driving without headlights down the center turn lane on Highway 301.
- Reckless Driving
- Reckless Driving
- Improper Use of Central Lane – He drove down the center lane for more than 300 feet.
- Failure to Yield Right of Way – For driving down the center lane with the intention of turning left but failing to yield to another vehicle that had the right of way.
- Driving Without Headlights
- Driving Without a License
- Driving Under the Influence (Less Safe – Alcohol)
- Failure to Wear a Seat Safety Belt
Perez was facing up to 37 years of incarceration, according to plea paperwork filed in the Clerk of Court’s Office.
On Monday, represented by attorney Andrew Boatright, Perez entered a negotiated plea in Bulloch County Superior Court before Judge Lovett Bennett Jr. The case was prosecuted by ADA Candace DeLoach.
Perez was subsequently sentenced as follows:
- Homicide by Vehicle in the 1st degree – 10 years to serve, followed by 5 years on probation
- Serious Injury by Vehicle – 10 years to serve, followed by 5 years on probation (concurrent to HV1 charge)
- Reckless Driving – 12 months to serve (concurrent to previous charges)
- Reckless Driving – 12 months to serve (concurrent to previous charges)
- Improper Use of Central Lane – 12 months to serve (concurrent to previous charges)
- Failure to Yield Right of Way – 12 months to serve (concurrent to previous charges)
- Driving Without Headlights – 12 months to serve (concurrent to previous charges)
- Driving Without a License – 12 months to serve (concurrent to previous charges)
- Driving Under the Influence (Less Safe – Alcohol) – 12 months to serve (concurrent to previous charges)
- Failure to Wear a Seat Safety Belt – Dismissed
The sentence totals 15 years, with 10 years confinement and five years on probation. Perez will receive credit for time served in the Bulloch County jail dating back to August 29, 2024 – a total of 285 days.
Upon release from prison, Perez will be subject to Fourth Amendment waivers, must undergo an Alcohol & Drug evaluation, abide by a curfew, and avoid use of and being in the presence of drugs and alcohol. He’s also barred from possessing guns or ammunition and may not contact the surviving victim in the case.
Court records show Perez was cited by the the Georgia State Patrol just one month before the crash for Driving Without a License. He pleaded guilty to that charge in March 2025 and received credit for time served since he was already in the Bulloch County Jail.
He now awaits transfer to the Georgia Department of Corrections.
