Man accused in crash that killed Rochester man waives probable cause hearing

Tayshawn Sheppard (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - The Somersworth man accused of negligent homicide in a July crash that claimed the life of a 25-year-old Rochester man waived his probable cause hearing at Rochester District Court on Friday paving the way for his case to now move to Strafford Superior Court in Dover.

Tayshawn Sheppard, 19, appeared briefly in the lobby of Rochester District Court to waive the hearing around 1 p.m. He is currently out on bail.

Sheppard is charged with negligent homicide in connection with the death of Adrian Sharman of Rochester.
Sheppard is also charged with vehicular assault, reckless operation, speeding, criminal mischief, a yellow/solid line violation and unlawful passing on left in connection with the fatal crash.
He also waived his initial Dec. 16 arraignment.
The accident occurred on July 24 around 6:45 a.m. in the area of 78 Rochester Hill Road where police say Sheppard was driving a 2023 Acura Integra when he passed over the double-yellow lines as he was heading into Rochester, colliding with three vehicles headed in the opposite direction.
Sheppard and the other two drivers involved in the crash escaped with minor or no injuries.
Sheppard is currently out on PR bail with restrictions that he not consume any alcohol, drive a motor vehicle or leave the state.
According to court records, he was involved in an earlier crash in Farmington in August 2024, when he was arrested for reckless conduct, unlawful passing on the left and speeding, all offenses that were also charged in the July crash.

In this case the maximum penalty for negligent homicide is seven years in state prison.

A clerk at Rochester District Court did not release the date of Sheppard's next hearing at Strafford Superior Court.