Former Air Force Member Pleads No Contest to Involuntary Manslaughter While DUI & Other Charges
06/17/2011
Today Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces Zachary T. Harrison, 23, plead no contest in District Court to each of his original charges in case 2010CR1904. The charges are Involuntary Manslaughter While Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, three counts of Aggravated Battery, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving the Death of a Person, Failure to Report an Accident, Following another Vehicle too Closely, Criminal Deprivation of Property and Failure to Report an Accident Involving Unattended Property. They are categorized as six felony charges, two misdemeanors and one traffic infraction. The charges stem from the fatality crash that occurred November 23, 2010 in the 1900 block of E. 1450 Road, which is Highway 24/59 north of Lawrence. The crash claimed the life of a Nebraska man and injured three other passengers. Depending on the findings of his presentence investigation, Mr. Harrison faces a prison sentence of 38 - 172 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) for Count One, 31-34 months KDOC for Count Two, seven - nine months KDOC for Counts Three and Four, five to seven months KDOC for Counts Five and Six, Count Seven is a Traffic Infraction, up to one year in jail for Count Eight and up to 30 days in jail for Count Nine. He will be sentenced on August 9 at 1:30 p.m. Today's hearing was held in the courtroom of the Honorable Sally D. Pokorny. The case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the University of Kansas Office of Public Safety and the Lawrence Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Greg Benefiel. -30- CONTACT INFO: Charles Branson Douglas County District Attorney 785-841-0211 cbranson@douglas-county.com
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Media Contact:
Cheryl L. Wright - Assistant to the District Attorney
District Attorney's Office
785-841-0211
cwright@douglas-county.com