A Warsaw man will serve six years in prison after hitting and killing a bicyclist while driving under the influence.
Jonathan Walter Michael Davis, 26, of 602 S. McClellan St., Warsaw, pled guilty to causing death when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a level 4 felony.
Davis was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court III on Tuesday.
Kosciusko Superior Court III Judge Chad Miner sentenced Davis to nine years in the Indiana Department of Correction, with six years executed and three years suspended on probation.
Davis' driver's license was also suspended for 9-1/2 years. His sentence will be served back-to-back to a misdemeanor case for driving while suspended.
Miner recommended Davis for Recovery While Incarcerated during his DOC sentence.
At sentencing, defense attorney Alexander Hoover asked Davis about counseling and therapy he was receiving at local facilities. Davis said he began counseling about a couple months ago and completed a full patient assessment on March 24.
Miner noted the facility's documents stated Davis had said he was still using methamphetamine, a substance which was found in his system at the time of the accident. Davis said this was true and also noted he consumed meth at least two hours prior to the accident occurring.
"These types of cases fortunately don't happen very often in this community," said Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton. "Jonathan Davis had no business being on the road that day with those substances in his system."
Hoover described the case as "extremely difficult" and one with "devastating circumstances." He noted Davis accepted responsibility for his actions very quickly, as the case wasn't even a year old. Hoover also said Davis freely admitted to his continued meth use and had taken steps on his own to address his substance abuse.
"He didn't want this accident to happen, he didn't intend for this to happen," said Hoover.
Affidavit of Probable Cause
At 7:55 p.m. Aug. 8, 2024, Kosciusko County emergency personnel responded to an accident involving a vehicle and bicycle at North Ind. 19 and West CR 1100N, south of Nappanee.
According to court documents, the bicyclist, identified as Aaron E. Miller, 52, Nappanee, sustained severe head trauma and minor abrasions to his leg. Miller was pronounced dead at the scene.
Davis was identified as the vehicle's driver. He told police he was traveling north on Ind. 19 when he saw the flashing lights on Miller's bicycle and "blacked out." He then "regained consciousness" after hitting Miller.
On Sept. 3, 2024, blood results from Davis showed he had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system at the time of the accident.