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Last updated on Thursday, January 1, 2015
(UNDATED) - The family of a Medora teen killed by a drunk driver filled the courtroom in August.
21-year-old Cody Silvers of Norman was sentenced to 8 years for failing to stop after an accident resulting in death of 16-year-old Kassi Lewis-Yoskovich.
14-year-old Noah Brown of Medora was seriously injured in the crash.
Silvers turned himself in four days after the accident. Kassi's family, dressed in purple t-shirts with Fly High Kassi surrounded by angel wings, filled one side of the courtroom. The other side, seated behind Silvers was filled with his family.
Superior Court I Judge Michael Robbins was stern with his remarks.
Robbins reviewed the probable cause affidavit before he sentenced Silvers.
Silvers was on probation at the time of this crime for operating a vehicle while intoxicated under a controlled substance endangerment. He was convicted of that crime in February 2013.
"The information provided this court is that he (Silvers) had been drinking," Robbins added. "It indicates to this court that he has no regard for the safety of the individuals on the roads that we all travel. He was in complete disregard to anyone - but himself. And it is a repeat behavior and I find that an additional aggravating circumstance...Though rehabilitation is one of the goals of the court, it is also the courts responsibility to keep this community safe and I take the safety of this community serious...I don't think Mr. Silvers does."
Judge Robbins also ordered Silvers pay the Brown family $792.25 in restitution for out of pocket medical bills. The Brown family also plans to file a civil suit against Silvers, because according to paperwork filed with the court, they have more than $137,385.08 in non-covered or pending medical bills.
Silvers did read a written statement to the court asking for forgiveness.
"I was in shock... It scared me so bad. In my mind my fate was sealed," Silvers read. "To Kassi's family I am sorry. I would do anything in my power to change all this. To Noah I am sorry and to my family I am sorry for my actions and the pain and sorrow I have caused everyone....I accept my punishment and ask forgiveness for my bad choices."
In July Silvers plead guilty to failure to stop after an accident resulting in death. The other charge of failure to stop after an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, Class D felony, could be dismissed.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Silvers was driving a green Chevy S-10 that collided with a moped driven by Brown in the 90-degree curve of George Johnson Road. According to witnesses, Silver backed up his truck, saw the teens lying in the roadway and then fled towards Leesville.
Lewis-Yoskovich, a Medora High School sophomore, was pronounced dead at the scene by Lawrence County Coroner Rob Herr. She died from severe head injuries. Brown, then a freshman at Medora High School, was flown by ambulance to Riley's Children Hospital.
Detectives discovered pieces of rubber from the tires of Silvers' vehicle and were able to follow Silvers across U.S. 50 onto Norman Road where the trail ended about 30 feet north on Norman Road. They then located marks on the asphalt where the vehicle was driving on the rim. Detectives followed those marks to a driveway in the 12700 block of West County Road 100 North. Silvers was at the home and officers were given consent to search his home and outbuildings. There they found the green Chevrolet S-10 in a pole building.
The white hood had been removed from the truck and was leaning against the wall.
Police say someone had removed the damaged right front passenger tire and changed it with a different one. The three other tires on the vehicle all were matching and clean, while the right passenger tire was dirty, and the rim that it was on appeared to be damaged; consistent with having been driven on asphalt. Officers also found the cooler next to the truck, the document states.
Police questioned Silvers, who admitted he was the driver and that when saw he had hit the teens, panicked and took off.
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