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Last updated on Wednesday, December 13, 2017
(LOOGOOTEE) - A Loogootee man was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to causing the death of 78-year-old Joseph Yerkes.
Ryan Wiscaver, 29, pleaded guilty to failure to remain at the scene of a fatal accident.
According to Washington Police, Yerkes of Washington was pronounced dead September 10th just before 5 a.m. at the scene of the hit and run accident on State Street near the intersection of East National Highway.
Washington Police Chief Todd Church says, Yerkes, who lived in the neighborhood, routinely took walks in the early morning hours.
After the accident, the driver, 29-year-old Ryan Wiscaver, fled the scene. He was later located thanks to a joint effort of several police agencies and arrested.
On Monday Wiscaver pleaded guilty in a negotiated plea deal. In exchange for the guilty plea, charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death were dropped.
Senior Judge Jim Osborn of Knox County presided over the sentencing in Daviess Superior Court sentenced Wiscaver to six years in prison for failure to remain at the scene of a fatal accident. He was given credit for 93 days already served and 31 days credit for good time served. Judge Osborn suspended 360 to probation. Wiscaver was also ordered to enter into a drug treatment program during his time in prison. After that is completed, the there could be a possibility of a sentence modification.
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