The conviction comes in connection with a March 2020 boating accident that led to the deaths of three people.
Matthew Fester pled guilty to death by impaired boating in August and faces 9-18 years in prison.
Before July of 2016, impaired boating was only a misdemeanor in North Carolina.
After teenager Sheyenne Marshall was killed by an impaired boater in 2015 her family successfully lobbied lawmakers to elevate the charge to a felony.