State v. Ryan Tapp Pardon Hearing
On New Year’s Day 2008, Felicity Moller, Kate Coventry and Ibti Vincent were traveling home after activities at the First Night in Hartford, CT. At the same time, an underage drunk driver, Ryan Tapp, was also traveling home from attending a party on the CCSU campus. While traveling on I-84, Mr. Tapp was observed making a u-turn on the highway and began driving the wrong way down the highway for 9 miles before crashing into another vehicle and then rolling over the top of Felicity’s car and nearly crushing everyone. As a result of the crash, Felicity suffered facial lacerations, a broken hand and ankle and partial amputation of her thumb. Kate suffered breaks in her right arm and wrist, which has resulted in numerous surgeries since the crash, and Ibti has permanent optic nerve damage resulting in lost vision of the right eye. On June 17, 2009, Ryan Tapp was sentenced to 10 years suspended, 18 months to serve in jail and 5 years of probation for the charges of DUI and 3 counts of Assault in the 2nd Degree with a Motor Vehicle.
On October 4, 2017, Felicity Moller and Kate Coventry along with their parents and Jennifer Rossi from MADD, attended a pardon hearing in Middletown Court. Ryan Tapp had applied for a pardon based on acceptance into a plumber apprenticeship that would require certain licenses where a pardon would be needed. Victim Impact Statements were given by Felicity and Kate and a statement was read for Ibti who could not be present. Based on the information from the defendant, his attorney and victim input, Mr. Tapp’s pardon request was denied because of the multiple injuries and impact to the victims, and the seriousness of the crime would be diminished by expungement of record. Felicity and Kate were pleased with this outcome, but also understand that the defendant may reapply for a pardon in 365 days.
Felicity Moller is a speaker at our Victim Impact Panels.