Paola man pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Tayler James Livingston, 27, of Paola, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Deeva Sharma, 25, of Leawood.

The charge stems from a crash on U.S. Highway 56 on Feb. 24, 2020. Livingston crossed the center line to pass a vehicle on the two-lane road and struck Sharma’s car head-on. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A blood test showed Livingston was intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level of .12.

The State was represented by Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden. The case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Sentencing for Livingston will occur at the Douglas County Fairgrounds at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 28. Pending a presentence investigation, Livingston faces a sentence of 38-172 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections, although the plea agreement recommends a downward departure of 28 months.