A driver in a crash that caused serious injuries to two people was sent to prison for more than a decade earlier this week.
Julio R. Freeman, 27, received a total prison sentence of 120 months plus an additional 725 days during a sentencing hearing on Monday.
In August, Freeman pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular assault, a third degree felony, and a first degree misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them stemming from a Feb. 2 crash at 3263 U.S. Route 68.
On Monday, the court granted a joint request from the state and defendant to withdraw the plea from August due to the viability of the allegations that Freeman was driving under suspension.
Freeman proceeded to plead guilty to two amended charges of aggravated vehicular assault, both third degree felonies, and a first degree misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them.
On the day of the crash, Freeman drove head-on into a vehicle driven by Jill D. Powell, of Springfield, causing her vehicle to flip and land on the driver’s side off the right side of the roadway.
Powell and Norma J. Maute, a passenger in the vehicle, both sustained serious injuries in the crash. Freeman was operating the motor vehicle without a valid driver’s at the time of the crash and was intoxicated at a blood alcohol level of more than the legal limit.
A journal entry on the sentencing hearing states one victim suffered 14 broken ribs and one fracture to the upper neck while another victim suffered five broken ribs, three of which were displaced.
The journal entry also notes both victims endured extended hospital stays and both continue to suffer physical and psychological harm.
In addition to the 120-month prison sentence, the court added an additional 725 days to the sentence because Freeman was under post release control at the time of the crash stemming from a 2010 robbery case in Clark County.
Freeman was also fined a total of $4,075 and had his driver’s license suspended eight years.
Upon his release, Freeman is subject to post release control for a period of up to three years.
Man placed on community control for vandalism
One of three people indicted for vandalism during the summer will serve time in jail as part of a community control sentence.
On Monday, Adrian D. Recker, 18, was placed on community control for a period of five years during a sentencing hearing. As part of community control, Recker was ordered to serve the first six months of his sentence in the Tri-County Regional Jail, Mechanicsburg.
Recker, Kyle T. Duhl and Zachary R. Garvey were all charged in relation to vandalism that occurred on June 17. At that time, Urbana Police sought the community’s assistance in solving multiple overnight crimes that occurred on that date resulting in heavy damage and a high value loss of property to multiple victims.
Using information provided by the public, police located Recker the next day and took him into custody. During questioning, police were able to determine that Recker as well as two other men and two juveniles were responsible for the overnight crimes.
Recker pleaded guilty to three fourth degree felony vandalism charges along with first degree misdemeanor charges of petty theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle in September.
As part of community control, Recker was ordered to successfully gain admission to and complete the West Central Community Based Correctional Facility residential program following his jail term, obtain a GED no later than Dec. 24, 2017, obtain and maintain employment upon release from the residential facility and observe a curfew of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. among other conditions.
Restitution in the case was ordered in the amount of $76,546.59 due to the Champaign County Preservation Alliance, B&D Freight Inc., All Phase Electric Company and Taylor Maintenance with each co-defendant ordered to pay $19,136.65.
If community control is revoked, Recker faces a potential 46 month prison sentence.
Duhl, 18, pleaded guilty to three fourth degree felony vandalism charges along with a fourth degree misdemeanor criminal trespass charge and a first degree misdemeanor unauthorized use of a vehicle charge earlier this month. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10.
Garvey, 18, was indicted on three counts of vandalism, two counts each of breaking and entering and unauthorized use of a vehicle and one count each of criminal trespass, petty theft, criminal damaging or endangering, receiving stolen property and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws.
He was indicted again last month on one count each of unauthorized use of vehicle and receiving stolen property. The grand jury indictment contends these charges stem from conduct that occurred between July 28 and Aug. 4.
A final pretrial conference for Garvey is scheduled for Nov. 21.
