Todd Norton sentenced to 17 years for killing Rockford bicyclist while high on drugs

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A man who struck and killed a Rockford bicyclist with his pickup truck while under the influence of drugs learned his sentence Friday. 

Judge Debra Schafer sentenced 54-year-old Todd Norton to 17 years in the Department of Corrections in the death of 43-year-old Bernard Sawtelle.

Sawtelle was riding his bike in the 800 block of Brooke Road on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2023, when Norton struck him with his truck. Sawtelle was pinned underneath the vehicle as it crashed into a nearby telephone pole. He later died at a local hospital.

Norton was found not guilty of first-degree murder last November but was convicted of reckless homicide with a motor vehicle and four counts of aggravated DUI causing death.

He was sentenced to five years for reckless homicide and 12 years on the remaining four offenses. The prison terms will be served concurrently.

Reckless homicide with a motor vehicle is a Class 3 felony that is upgradable to a Class 2 offense. Aggravated DUI causing death is a Class 2 felony.