A Syracuse man will serve up to 14 years in prison for causing a crash that killed two people on Christmas.
Mickgomery Hisey, 27, was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with three years suspended.
After Hisey is released from prison, his driver’s license will be suspended for 12 years.
Kosciusko Superior Court III Judge Joe Sutton said Hisey “showed a reckless disregard for the safety of others” when he caused the crash.
Hisey pleaded guilty to two counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing a death and two counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury.
Police say Hisey was speeding on CR 1200N in Syracuse when he tried to pass a car on the crest of a hill in the opposite lane and hit a car head-on driven by Stephen Conrad.
Stephen’s wife, Kim?Conrad, and son, Stephen Conrad II, were killed in the crash.
The elder Conrad and Brody Jordan, a passenger in Hisey’s vehicle, were injured.
Hisey had a blood alcohol content of 0.12, according to court records.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Capt.?Chris McKeand estimates Hisey was traveling 75 mph when he hit the Conrads’ car.
The posted speed limit in the area is 45 mph.
“How could you be going that fast in an area where you grew up in, where you knew that there was a stop sign at the end of the hill?” Sutton asked.
“You had time to decide to drive the car after you had been drinking, you had hours to make those decisions. You gave the Conrads about a half a second. They didn’t have a chance.”
Sutton pointed out that Hisey took the wheel to get his friend a pack of cigarettes, even though his friend had not been drinking.
“This wasn’t an accident, A Syracuse man will serve up to 14 years in prison for causing a crash that killed two people on Christmas.
Mickgomery Hisey, 27, was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with three years suspended.
After Hisey is released from prison, his driver’s license will be suspended for 12 years.
Kosciusko Superior Court III Judge Joe Sutton said Hisey “showed a reckless disregard for the safety of others” when he caused the crash.
Hisey pleaded guilty to two counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing a death and two counts of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing serious injury.
Police say Hisey was speeding on CR 1200N in Syracuse when he tried to pass a car on the crest of a hill in the opposite lane and hit a car head-on driven by Stephen Conrad.
Stephen’s wife, Kim?Conrad, and son, Stephen Conrad II, were killed in the crash.
The elder Conrad and Brody Jordan, a passenger in Hisey’s vehicle, were injured.
Hisey had a blood alcohol content of 0.12, according to court records.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Capt.?Chris McKeand estimates Hisey was traveling 75 mph when he hit the Conrads’ car.
The posted speed limit in the area is 45 mph.
“How could you be going that fast in an area where you grew up in, where you knew that there was a stop sign at the end of the hill?” Sutton asked.
“You had time to decide to drive the car after you had been drinking, you had hours to make those decisions. You gave the Conrads about a half a second. They didn’t have a chance.”
Sutton pointed out that Hisey took the wheel to get his friend a pack of cigarettes, even though his friend had not been drinking.
“This wasn’t an accident, this was a crime,” Sutton said.
During his argument, Kosciusko County Prosecutor Dan Hampton said no sentence would ever be enough to heal what Hisey took from the Conrads.
“Whatever argument I make, whatever argument the defense makes, whatever apology Hisey makes, it will never be enough,” Hampton said.
Fourteen years behind bars was the maximum time allowed under a plea agreement with prosecutors. Seventeen years is the most Hisey could get under the charges based on state law.
“It’s not enough time for broken hearts,” Sutton said.
The courtroom was packed with supporters and Conrad family members. Extra chairs had to be brought in, and the jury box was used for extra seating.
Michael Conrad, another son of Stephen and Kim, took the stand and talked about the pain he suffered in losing his mother and brother.
Michael and his wife, Katie, were preparing to have their first Christmas as a family and had just received a text from his dad and mom saying they were 15 minutes away.
When the family didn’t show up, Michael said he was told the news later.
“I yelled, I cried, I didn’t know what to do,” Michael said.
Katie Conrad testified that her daughter and unborn child will never know their uncle and grandmother.
“Most days are agonizing, but we continue to trust God’s promises that some day we will see our family again,” Katie said.
Steven said he passes by the crash site each day on his way to work.
“I ask the same question. How did this happen in a 45 miles per hour zone on Christmas?” he said.
Hisey said he was sorry for what happened.
“Nothing I can say can bring them back. Part of me wants to ask for forgiveness, but I know that’s not going to happen,” Hisey said.
Sutton asked Hisey how he drove so recklessly on a street he grew up on.
“I don’t know. I don’t remember the accident,” Hisey said.
