By Jamie Forsythe and Curt Libbra
News-Democrat
RAYMOND, Ill. — The semi-truck driver who struck and killed Illinois State Police Trooper Kyle Deatherage on Interstate 55 near Raymond in November 2012 will avoid jail time after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Johnny B. Felton Jr., 54, of Hinesville, Ga., was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of probation after pleading guilty in Montgomery County Circuit Court in Hillsboro to two felony charges — reckless homicide and operating a commercial vehicle without a valid commercial driver’s license. Felton was also fined $2,500, plus court costs, and lost his commercial driver’s license.
Swansea attorney Thomas Q. Keefe Jr. represents Deatherage’s widow, Sarah, and their two children in a wrongful-death lawsuit against Felton and his employer DTI, which is pending in Madison County.
“This loss will go on with this family forever,” Keefe said on behalf of the family. “The plea of guilty to a felony by Johnny Felton was certainly all the family could have gotten had they gone to trial.”
Full Story: ‘Loss will go on...forever': Truck driver who struck, killed trooper gets probation