Curtis Valentine guilty of aggravated DUI for the death of Katie Martin

On a Tuesday morning in November, 2016, around 11:30 a.m., a 2011 Nissan Altima left the roadway on Mosley Gap Road in Warren County, where the pavement turns to gravel.

In the vehicle was Katherine “Katie” Martin, 20, Kahlil Brown, 21, and Curtis Lee Valentine, 20. The vehicle hit a tree, rolled at least one time, partially ejecting Martin, and then came to a stop, trapping her underneath it. Martin was declared dead at the scene by Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey.

Brown and Valentine were injured but survived.

A subsequent investigation by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office determined Valentine was speeding when he went into a curve and lost control of the car. Toxicology tests showed Valentine was under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the wreck.

Yesterday evening, at around 7 p.m. Warren County District Attorney Ricky Smith and Assistant District Attorney Michael Warren successfully prosecuted the case in front of Judge James Chaney.

Valentine was found guilty of aggravated DUI resulting in Martin’s death. He was immediately taken into custody and will remain incarcerated until sentencing, which will be in about two weeks.

The Vicksburg Daily News will keep you updated on this case as more information becomes available.