HOT SPRINGS -- A man who pleaded guilty to fatally striking a pedestrian with his car while intoxicated last summer was sentenced to 12 years in prison Tuesday in Garland County Circuit Court.
James Lee Goff, 27, of Hot Springs, pleaded guilty to a felony count of negligent homicide and a misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated, first offense. He was sentenced to the maximum of 20 years in prison, with eight years suspended, fined $500 and ordered to pay $570 in court costs.
Goff, who had no prior felony history, was initially arrested the night of Aug. 19 and charged with DWI and violation of a pedestrian's right of way in a crosswalk.
Goff struck William Baker, 77, of Malvern, who was crossing the street between the Crosswalk Bar and Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in the 2700 block of Central Avenue. Baker was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs and was pronounced dead at 12:30 a.m. the next day.
Goff was subsequently charged with the negligent homicide count.
According to the affidavit, shortly after 9:30 p.m. Aug. 19, Hot Springs police officers Randy Rodgers and Eric Stockwell responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. They made contact with Goff, who was driving a 1996 Acura.
Goff registered 0.364 blood alcohol content on a portable breath test, more than four times the legal driving limit. He was taken into custody at the Garland County jail, where a second blood alcohol test was administered with a result of 0.318, almost four times the limit.
State Desk on 05/28/2016