Syracuse, N.Y. — A driver who hit a man with his pickup truck, leaving him dead in a ditch in the town of Onondaga, accepted a plea deal on Friday that will send him to prison.
Jeffery Cleeton, 55, of Camillus, was charged Dec. 18 with leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident.
On Friday, he pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a personal injury accident resulting in death. He faces two to six years in state prison, said prosecutor Bradley Oastler, a senior assistant district attorney.
Lee H. Riley, 53, was found dead in the ditch in the early afternoon of Dec. 14 in the 4000 block of Bussey Road. A bike was found with him.
Oastler was driving a pickup truck when he hit Riley and drove away despite “knowing or having cause to know” Riley had been struck, according to Judge Mary Anne Doherty.
During a court appearance last Friday Chief Assistant District Attorney Frank Pelosi said that there was a video of Cleeton drinking several beers and having several shots before driving and hitting Riley that day.
Cleeton accepted a plea deal of two to six years in prison and a fine of $2,000. The $2,000 has already been paid, said his attorney David Zukher. After he is released from prison his driver’s license will be revoked, said Oastler.
Cleeton is expected to be sentenced on April 17.
Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or [email protected].
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