A Bay Minette man wanted for more than a year and a half in connection with a deadly 2024 hit-and-run is now in the Baldwin County Jail. Steven Patshy, 44, was taken into custody by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, after he was arrested in Florida on Friday, Sept. 18, according to jail records. He faces a charge of vehicular homicide in the death of De’Andre Ervin.
The case stems from a crash on March 20, 2024. Court records say a grand jury indicted Patshy and a warrant for his arrest has been outstanding since Jan. 29, 2025. His bond has been set at $30,000.
What Patshy Is Accused Of
According to the charges, Patshy is accused of unintentionally causing Ervin’s death while driving recklessly on March 20, 2024, and then leaving the scene of the crash. He is charged with two offenses:
- Vehicular homicide
- Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury
Officials have not released publicly, in the records available, the exact location of the 2024 crash or further details of how it occurred. Patshy has not been convicted of any crime, and the charges are accusations that must be proven in court.
A Warrant More Than 18 Months Old
The timeline in the case stretches over two and a half years. The crash that killed Ervin happened in March 2024. Roughly ten months later, a grand jury returned an indictment, and on Jan. 29, 2025, a warrant was issued for Patshy’s arrest. That warrant remained active until his arrest in Florida last week.
When a person charged in Alabama is arrested in another state, the transfer back typically depends on extradition. A defendant can waive extradition and agree to be returned voluntarily, or the charging state can pursue a formal process through the governor’s office. In this case, jail records show Patshy was arrested on Friday and booked into Baldwin County custody two days later. Authorities have not said where in Florida he was located or how he was found.
How Alabama Law Treats Vehicular Homicide
Alabama law defines homicide by vehicle, commonly called vehicular homicide, as unlawfully and unintentionally causing the death of another person while operating a vehicle in violation of state traffic laws or municipal ordinances regulating the operation of motor vehicles. The key element is that the death was not intended. That distinguishes the charge from murder or manslaughter, which require proof of intent or of a reckless disregard for human life.
Under the Alabama Code, homicide by vehicle is classified as a Class C felony, which carries a potential sentence of one year and one day up to 10 years in prison, along with possible fines. The actual sentence in any case depends on the facts, the defendant’s criminal history and the decision of the judge.
Prosecutors in Alabama have several options when a fatal crash involves bad driving. Depending on the evidence, a driver could face vehicular homicide, criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter or, in the most extreme cases, reckless murder. The choice turns on how the driver behaved and what investigators can prove about their state of mind.
Leaving the Scene Carries Its Own Penalties
The second charge Patshy faces addresses what investigators say happened after the crash. Alabama law requires any driver involved in a crash that results in injury or death to stop immediately at the scene, provide their name, address and vehicle registration, and render reasonable assistance to anyone who is hurt, including arranging transportation for medical treatment if it is needed.
A driver who fails to stop after a crash involving injury or death can be charged with a felony. The law exists because the minutes after a crash are often decisive for an injured person, and because a driver who flees makes it far harder for investigators to determine what happened. Hit-and-run cases can take months or years to solve, often relying on vehicle debris, surveillance video, witness tips and forensic analysis to identify the vehicle and driver.
What Happens Next in the Case
Because Patshy was indicted by a grand jury, the case is already positioned to proceed in Baldwin County Circuit Court. Typical next steps in an Alabama felony case include:
- Arraignment, where the defendant is formally advised of the charges and enters a plea.
- Discovery, in which prosecutors share evidence with the defense.
- Pretrial motions, which can address bond, evidence and other legal issues.
- Resolution, either through a plea agreement or a trial before a jury.
Patshy remains in the Baldwin County Jail with bond set at $30,000. Under Alabama’s constitution, most defendants are entitled to reasonable bail, and a judge can revisit bond conditions as the case moves forward. It has not been reported whether Patshy has an attorney.
A Reminder About Road Safety in Baldwin County
Baldwin County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Alabama, and more residents and visitors mean more traffic on its highways and rural roads, from U.S. Highway 31 and State Route 225 in the north to the busy beach corridors in the south. Law enforcement agencies across the county regularly remind drivers that reckless driving, speeding and distraction are leading factors in serious crashes.
They also emphasize a simple legal and moral obligation: if you are involved in a crash, stop. Calling 911 and staying at the scene can save a life, and it is required by law. Anyone with information about a hit-and-run crash in Baldwin County can contact the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office or their local police department.
For Ervin’s loved ones, the arrest marks a step forward in a case that has remained unresolved since March 2024. The case will now move through the court system, where Patshy will have the opportunity to answer the charges against him.