Morris Co. 'Ski Rage' Doc Sentenced To 3 Valentine's Days In Jail

MORRIS, NJ — A Morris County doctor has been sentenced to spend the next three Valentine's Days in jail, on the anniversary of a "ski rage" attack against a 12-year-old, Sussex County Prosecutor Francis A. Koch said.

Samuel Caruthers, 47, from Mountain Lakes, was sentenced to three years of probation and three individual days in jail. Caruthers must serve those three 24-hour periods in jail on February 14, 2020, 2021, and 2022, the next three anniversaries of the attack, Koch said.

In addition to probation and jail time, Caruthers must submit to a psychiatric and personality evaluation, complete an approved anger management program, perform 200 hours of community service work, submit a DNA sample, and pay $1,455 in fines and fees. He is banned from contacting the victim and his family, Koch said.

It was not clear why Caruthers was sentenced to three nonconsecutive days in jail. Nonconsecutive sentences are unusual but not unheard-of.

Caruthers was found guilty of endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful possession of a weapon, and simple assault in an April trial following the 2016 attack. While skiing at Mountain Creek in Vernon on Valentine's Day that year, Caruthers assaulted a 12-year-old snowboarder, punching him and hitting him with his ski pole, Koch said.

The 12-year-old sustained minor injuries to the boys back, ribs and lip.

The boy reportedly accidentally skied into Caruthers, setting off the attack. During the trial Caruthers reportedly said he could not tell the 12-year-old boy was that young, citing his height, bulky clothing and mask, and mustache.

Caruthers is an anesthesiologist with a practice in Boonton.