Jeffrey Hubbard was sentenced Wednesday in the death of 11-year-old Kile Glover, receiving 15 years total from Superior Court Judge Bonnie Oliver, four in the Hall County Correctional Institution and the balance on probation.
Hubbard was driving the jet ski that hit the boy and another child in an inner tube on Lake Lanier in July, 2012.
Glover died days after the crash.
Hubbard was convicted last month of homicide by vessel, serious injury by vessel, reckless operation of a vessel, unlawful operation of a personal watercraft and a boat traffic violation.
During his trial, Hubbard's attorney argued the crash was a tragic accident and that recklessness didn't factor into Glover's death.
District Attorney Lee Darragh's office asked that Hubbard be given ten years to serve in jail and ten on probation. "However sentencing is clearly within the judge's discretion and we respect her sentence," Darragh said.
Darragh explained that he asked for the stronger sentence to send a clear message to those who operate vessels on Lake Lanier. "What this office hopes is that those who would boat on the lake would put human safety over and above their recreation."
"I would hope any sentence would get the attention of others," Darragh added. "I'm not confident that it has gotten the attention of Mr. Hubbard."
Jeffrey Simon Hubbard
http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/3/272004