A soldier who was walking home late one night was hit and left for dead by a fellow soldier. The man who was later located and charged with vehicular homicide just recently entered a guilty plea. The decision was made after the Tennessee prosecutor told the family that the state could not pursue the case.

The accident occurred last December. The 21-year-old victim, a Private First Class, was walking home around 2:30 a.m. The 27-year-old former Army Captain reportedly hit the victim with his vehicle and continued on his way. Later, the man stated that he believed that he had hit an animal and that is the reason he did not stop to render aid.

The victim’s family was later informed by the Tennessee prosecutor’s office that because there were undisclosed problems concerning the evidence in the case against the man, the state would be unable to pursue a conviction in court. The family was distressed until the assistant district attorney informed them that the accused man wanted to plead guilty to the charges. At that point, plans were made for that court hearing that resulted in his plea.

The former soldier entered a guilty plea to charges of vehicular homicide as well as driving under the influence of alcohol. He accepted a six-year sentence with one year to be served in jail while the remaining five years would be spent on probation. He also agreed to a rehabilitation program for a six-month period and to have his driving privileges revoked for six years. This man chose to plead guilty for reasons of his own when the state clearly stated that it could not seek a conviction based on the evidence it possessed. Nevertheless, every accused person is entitled to pursue justice on their own behalf in a manner that is consistent with their own personal circumstances.

Source: theleafchronicle.com, “Tenn. family forgives man who killed son in DUI wreck“, Tavia D. Green, Aug. 14, 2014

Source: theleafchronicle.com, “Tenn. family forgives man who killed son in DUI wreck“, Tavia D. Green, Aug. 14, 2014