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B'ville man sentenced to seven
years in prison
Wanda English Burnett, Editor
Eric McClure, 39, of Batesville, was sentenced to seven years
in prison for his role in an automobile accident that claimed
the life of June Voegele of Madison.
In Ripley County Circuit Court, McClure pled guilty to Leaving
the Scene of An Accident Resulting in Death, a Class C Felony.
This plea was entered on May 21, and accepted and filed on July
11.
McClure will also have to pay $9,460.00 as restitution for lost
wages to Warren Voegele of Batesville, who was also in the accident
and suffered serious injuries.
According to Prosecutor Ric Hertel, he was pleased with the plea
agreement saying a Class C felony carries a 2-8 year prison sentence,
the defendant was given seven years. McClure plead guilty
to the most serious charge, a Class C Felony and sentenced to
7 years, no time suspended, the prosecutor told the Osgood
Journal. He further commented that the charges that were dismissed
would not have been consecutive, because they were part of a single
episode of criminal conduct. Therefore, had we even had
a trial and he (McClure) would be convicted of all charges, the
sentence would have run concurrent.
The prosecutor noted that theres always the chance of an
acquittal with a jury trial and there would have been no
guarantee that the judge would have given him (McClure) that additional
year."
According to Ripley Publishing Co. files, McClure fled the scene
the night of the accident, January 20, 2007, and was taken into
custody eight days later by the Indiana State Police in Jefferson
County. He was at the Presidents Motel on Windridge Drive
in Madison.
Besides the Voegeles, there was another passenger, 18-year-old
Marie Clark of Madison, who sustained injuries in the one-vehicle
crash on Michigan Road. The original report noted that the driver
lost control, left the roadway and struck an embankment causing
the vehicle to roll over. It was reported that alcohol was believed
to be a factor in the crash. The crash took place about 4:24 a.m.
On January 25 Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel filed criminal
charges against McClure that included Leaving the Scene of An
Accident Causing Death and Operating a Motor Vehicle as a Habitual
Traffic Violator. The defendant was on probation at the time of
the accident for Operating a Vehicle as a Habitual Traffic Violator,
after losing his license for life. After serving his sentence
on that violation, McClure was back behind the wheel only three
months later with the result ending in the tragic loss of life.
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