GSC student sentenced for hit-and-run death

ATHENS - A Gainesville State College student has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the hit-and-run death last year of a 12-year-old Athens boy who was bicycling near his home in Clarke County.

Clarke County Superior Court Judge Steve Jones sentenced 24-year-old Joseph Patrick Armstrong of August on Wednesday under a plea agreement for the death of 12-year-old Gedera Thomas on June 8, 2008.

Armstrong pleaded guilty to first-degree homicide by vehicle, DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. Prosecutors dropped a second vehicular homicide count.

In addition to the prison time, Jones also sentenced Armstrong to 12 years of probation.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/10/223666