With the blood-alcohol test of the driver in a fatal car wreck ruled inadmissible, attorneys worked out a plea negotiation Thursday.
Harley A. Snyder, 31, pleaded guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to homicide by vehicle in the first degree, failure to yield and driving under the influence.
Judge J. Carlisle Overstreet accepted the plea and sentenced Mr. Snyder to four years in prison followed by six years on probation. He also allowed Mr. Snyder to have First Offender status.
Mr. Snyder was driving south on Newmantown Road in Grovetown on May 24, 2004, when he missed the stop sign at Gordon Highway and crashed into the side of another vehicle, Assistant District Attorney Adam King said. John E. Grant, his father-in- law, was a passenger in Mr. Snyder's car. Both men and the other driver were taken to the hospital. Mr. Grant, 44, did not appear to be seriously injured, but he died 10 days later because of a head injury.
Mr. King said he was willing to negotiate a plea because of the Feb. 25 Georgia Supreme Court ruling that said the officer who obtained Mr. Snyder's consent to a blood test should have first obtained a search warrant.
Mr. Snyder's blood-alcohol level was 0.113, said defense attorney Brendan Fleming. Mr. Grant's was 0.207.
Mr. Grant's widow, Sue Grant, and daughter, Poppy Snyder, pleaded with the judge to forgo a prison term.
"We've been through enough," Mrs. Grant said.
Mr. Snyder hasn't had any traffic violations since the wreck, but he had a DUI conviction from March 2002.
According to court records and an Augusta Chronicle report, Mr. Snyder was driving on Gordon Highway when Marvin E. Brown, 43, pulled out in front of him. Mr. Brown was killed, and sheriff's officers found Mr. Brown at fault.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Harley Snyder should have also had his license to drive suspended for life and been on probation for life to encourage him to remember he's not allowed to drive. He's already shown he's unwilling to make the responsible decision to not drink and drive. I guess Judge Overstreet didn't want to inconvenience Snyder or his family any more then he had to. It's up to the rest of us to watch out for ole Harley.
Two car accidents with fatalities, what are the chances?
Dang PT, I know I am coming down with the flu, but this is ridiculous. I agree with you again 1000%.
Can we all say" no more driving for him". How many more people does he have to kill.
Well he will drive again because he was given the "First offender Act" ruling. Now if he completes his sentence without any more offenses his charges will become closed records and can't be used against him in the future.The judge agreed to the plea bargain to at least give him some jail time. If this would have gone to trial chances are he would have walked because his blood tests where not allowed to be used as evidence against him.
Hypo, you just like being right sometimes. We all need to feel good about ourselves. Welcome to the sunshine.
Two accidents, two deaths, two times DUI. Light sentence!!
This guy gets 4 years. The Drunk MCG Proffessor driving the wrong way on Riverwatch killed a young man. He never a said I am sorry he did not serve time. He did say he was cofused. There is a big difference in being confused Drunk on your butt. J. Carlisle Overstreet is the President of the Village Idiot Judges Jerking Circle.
What a [filtered word] And the lawyers who defend these [filtered word] are unscrupulous [filtered word] too that pride themselves on getting repeat offenders off!!! BAC inadmissable due to lack of search warrant... what a joke... all the dui laws made are to protect the drunks, not a damn one of them are to protect innocent people from these [filtered word] losers!!!!!!!!!!!
Some of these "authorities" in the criminal justice system are just as guilty of DUI, fender-benders, and "accidents" as the individuals they arrest, convict, and imprison. Unfortunately, they are not brought into the courts because of their "status" in society. Fair justice? I think not.
I agree, I think when a judge gives a bogus sentence or a lawyer manipulates the system, or a DA agrees to a ridiculous plea, etc.... when these [filtered word] do kill someone, they ought to be held responsible also!!! If you have the money for your fines or a good lawyer a dui means nothing and teaches a drunk driver absolutely nothing. A drunk driver should be at the very least sentenced to caring for someone for their community service that has been left a quadrapalegic or something due to a drunk driver. These little fines and a suspened license are not a deterrant at all they still get another. Why is it a person is even allowed to rack up 4 5 6, 11 duis?? If they cant control themselves them someone should protect the public from them even if it takes life in prison!!!!!!!
duh! did mr. Grant not know his son in law was drunk that is his fault for getting in the car with him.
I agree you have to take responsibility for your own actions and Grant paid the ultimate price, but he was twice as drunk as his son in law and his moron for a son in law is the one who made the decision to take the wheel. What if it had been a schoolbus full of kids he hit and killed. Trying to make excuses for the [filtered word] drunk driver either tells me you are a [filtered word] drunk driver too.. or just a moron!!!!!!!
Only one post eh?? You must be a friend or family member of the convicted [filtered word]!!!!!!
Ever notice its the [filtered word] drunk driver thats the one who survives and is least injured???? To bad its not the oher way around. It would make me very happy if only the [filtered word] drunk driver was the only one killed for their ignorant selfish choices!!!!!! Not that I wish death on anyone, but innocent people shouldn't pay the ultimate price because you are a [filtered word]!!!!!!
Has anyone stopped to think before speaking? Try a little investigating before you make your assumptions heard. 10 days in the hospitial before passing! 7 days of progression and reassurance 3 days of mediation and refusal to treat. After 3 days of no treatment who would survive? Johnny was to come home. Thats what was told by the Neurologist before his treatment was abruptly stopped against wishes of his wife. Had he survived would Harley be charged with hoicide by vehicle
Where did you get your info??? And if its the Dr.s fault and he went against the wishes of the wife... why isnt she speaking up or going to the media to get her story out and the hospital in trouble?? Reguardless, this man has 2 duis in 2 years, he didn't learn his lesson after the first one!! So IMO I have no sympathy for him at all. Had he learned his lesson the first time, this situation never wuld have happened!!! Drunk drivers are scum!!! I am only glad no innocent family or child was killed becuase this idiot can not stop drinking and driving!!!!!!!!!!! IMO second dui should have your pulling a few years anyway since one cares nothing about other people on the road!!!!!!!! I think he got lucky with such a lil sentence for killing someone!!!!! the second dui alone should have sent him away for 3-5 easy!!!!! Instead of being greatful he wasnt charged in the first one and seeing the error of his ways, he thinks its a good idea to keep doing it. And I will bet money these 2 times arent the only 2 times hes ever drove drunk!!!!! He deserves whatever he gets and then some!!!!!!!
I am not downplaying the seriousness of DUI by any means. It just amazes me how the rules are different for different people. As we all are aware its all in who you know. There are people with several more DUI's who have only had to spend a few weekends in jail along with community service and fines. What is DUI? Driving under the influence : of what DRUGS and alcohol. We only hear about the alcohol related cases. How about the government funded clinics The one dowmtown that supplies methadone to doctors, lawyers, nurses,the average Joe, not just the assumed "crackhead". Some of which bring their children along to get their daily "dose" before they hit the road. Are they impaired? So who is doing bad and who is not? I have no disrespect for anyone's views for death is a serious, tragic and heartbreaking subject. If only there was a way to cure the world!!!!!!!!! Perhaps your advice will be taken.
I agree, but its not just who ya know, its also if you have the money for the fines and unscrupulous lawyers. The laws need to be drastically changed, as they stand they are a big joke!!!. There is no reason in this world for anyone to have 4 or 5 duis and still be free to walk the streets. If you can not control yourself someone else should. Repeat offender drunk drivers are selfish [filtered word]'s and should be locked away!!!! =) JMO!! As far as the pill head, they too should be treated just as tough. But a responsible person finds out how they react first to the prescribed medication before doing something like driving. But there ae also so many [filtered word]'s who take it for the high and drive, they should be put under the jail too!! And so should the DR's who prescribe them without proper testing and background checks into drug abuse history. Laws need to be changed. The day after this girl I know got out of rehab, she went str8 to another dr and got a somas script, which is what she was in rehab for!!!! Court required becuase she wrecked dui from somas with her 3 kids in the car, she passed out driving!!! WTF is that???
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