A hit-and-run driver who seriously injured a pedestrian, putting him in the hospital for more than a month last October, was sentenced to 16 months to three years in state prison Wednesday in Lycoming County Court by Judge Joy R. McCoy.
John M. Easton Jr., 36, of 1980 Route 405, Muncy, was drunk behind the wheel in a company truck on Oct. 9, 2011, when he crashed into Alonzo Barr in the 400 block of West Third Street close to 3 a.m., according to police.
Easton told police he fell asleep after consuming about 12 alcoholic drinks during the night and did not realize he hit a person while driving a truck owned by his former employer, Palcon LLC, of Muncy.
Barr, who is from Mississippi, suffered broken bones in his legs and back as well as a punctured lung and head trauma.
According to a report he filed with the court, Barr still has mobility problems and faces multiple future surgeries.
He is seeking more than $145,000 in restitution; however, attorneys couldn't agree on an exact figure. McCoy said a separate restitution hearing will be scheduled later to resolve the issue.
It was noted that the DUI was Easton's fourth such charge in his life, and the third within 10 years. A warrant for his arrest for drug charges also was active at the time of the incident, according to Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Osokow.
Easton pleaded guilty on June 8 on charges of aggravated assault by a vehicle while DUI, recklessly endangering another person and DUI.
In addition to Barr, McCoy said Easton's former employer also is a victim in the case because of physical damage to its truck and higher insurance premiums.
His defense attorney, Peter T. Campana, requested a county prison sentence, but McCoy declined.
"Clearly, a county prison sentence didn't get to him previously," she said. "This is a serious crime. There were multiple people impacted."
McCoy also placed Easton on state probation for six years.
