Man gets maximum sentence in fatal crash
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BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- A 22-year-old driver was given the maximum sentence by a judge Thursday for the hit-and-run killing of a Western Washington University student last June.
On June 2, 19-year-old Steven Rhone Jr. was in a crosswalk when a speeding car driven by Damian McKay ran a stop sign and crashed into Rhone, carrying him 160 feet before he fell to the street.
Rhone, 19, died at a Bellingham hospital a few hours after the crash. McKay and his girlfriend, Amanda Littrell, drove away from the scene in the heavily-damaged car.
They and their friends, Chad Abbott and Amber Cooper, tried to hide the car -- first in a dark sheet, and then under a tarp they bought at a Bellingham store. But a tip from a citizen led police to McKay and they eventually found the car.
In Whatcom County Superior Court Thursday, all four entered pleaded guilty. McKay pleaded guilty to charges of hit and run and vehicular homicide, while the others to rendering criminal assistance. Each apologized to the Rhone family.
Steven Rhone Sr. said he noted the apologies but couldn't grant them forgiveness at this time.
The judge, Ira Uhrig, looked at the defendant and said: "Your apologies are shallow, hollow, and shabby. Shame on you, shame on all of you."
He sentenced McKay to the maximum allowable -- which he said was not enough -- of 4 1/2 years in prison.
Littrell, 20, and Cooper, 22, each received five-month sentences, while Abbott, who is 31, -- the judge said he was old enough to know better -- got a six-month sentence.
Outside the courtroom, prosecutor Mac Setter and Rhone Sr. both said the maximum 4 1/2 year sentence is not long enough and that both would carry th fight to Olympia to increase the standard range sentence for vehicular homicide.
Past stories:
Bellingham bars blamed for fatal drunk-driving crash
"I want justice to be served"
Suspect arrested in fatal hit-and-run
Kenmore man killed in Bellingham hit-and-run
On June 2, 19-year-old Steven Rhone Jr. was in a crosswalk when a speeding car driven by Damian McKay ran a stop sign and crashed into Rhone, carrying him 160 feet before he fell to the street.
Rhone, 19, died at a Bellingham hospital a few hours after the crash. McKay and his girlfriend, Amanda Littrell, drove away from the scene in the heavily-damaged car.
They and their friends, Chad Abbott and Amber Cooper, tried to hide the car -- first in a dark sheet, and then under a tarp they bought at a Bellingham store. But a tip from a citizen led police to McKay and they eventually found the car.
In Whatcom County Superior Court Thursday, all four entered pleaded guilty. McKay pleaded guilty to charges of hit and run and vehicular homicide, while the others to rendering criminal assistance. Each apologized to the Rhone family.
Steven Rhone Sr. said he noted the apologies but couldn't grant them forgiveness at this time.
The judge, Ira Uhrig, looked at the defendant and said: "Your apologies are shallow, hollow, and shabby. Shame on you, shame on all of you."
He sentenced McKay to the maximum allowable -- which he said was not enough -- of 4 1/2 years in prison.
Littrell, 20, and Cooper, 22, each received five-month sentences, while Abbott, who is 31, -- the judge said he was old enough to know better -- got a six-month sentence.
Outside the courtroom, prosecutor Mac Setter and Rhone Sr. both said the maximum 4 1/2 year sentence is not long enough and that both would carry th fight to Olympia to increase the standard range sentence for vehicular homicide.
Past stories:
Bellingham bars blamed for fatal drunk-driving crash
"I want justice to be served"
Suspect arrested in fatal hit-and-run
Kenmore man killed in Bellingham hit-and-run
