Paris, Tenn.–Upon a plea agreement, a Henry County man was sentenced to a lesser charge in a car accident that claimed the life of an 11-year-old girl in 2018.
Kevin Hilt, age 39, of Henry, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in Henry County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to serve four years in the State Department of Corrections. He will serve 90 days in prison with the remainder on state probation, with 250 hours of community service required.
Hilt was originally charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication, vehicular homicide by reckless conduct, two counts of vehicular assaults by DUI, two counts of reckless endangerment, DUI and fabrication/tampering with evidence.
Killed in the accident was Abigale Lucero, age 11. She was a passenger in a 1996 Jeep driven by Ricky Glisson. Cheyenne Glisson, age 12, was injured and airlifted from the scene with head trauma.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol report released at the time, Glisson and Hilt were driving northbound on Hwy. 79S when Hilt struck the Jeep in the rear end, causing the Jeep to roll over. The passengers were ejected from the Jeep and the Jeep came to a final rest on top of the ejected passengers.
At this week’s sentencing hearing, the family of Abigale Lucero as well as Cheyenne Glisson gave impact statements to the court and spoke to Hilt of the trauma caused to them and their lives due to his actions.
Appearing for the state was Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Hale. Representing Hilt was Paris Attorney Chad Cox.