LAFAYETTE, La. — The driver who pled guilty in August to a 2017 crash that resulted in the death of a UL Lafayette graduate student has been released after three years in jail.
Joseph Dakota Richey, 26, had pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, possession of synthetic marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless operation, speeding and no seat belt on Aug. 3 in the 15th Judicial District Court.
According to court records, Richey was to be sentenced separately on each charge to run consecutively, but as part of his plea agreement he was eligible to receive credit for time served.
Richey had been sentenced to five years at hard labor on the felony charge and a total of 10 months and 15 days for the various misdemeanors.
However, the court agreed that since Richey had already served three years, he was eligible for parole for the felony charge and with credit for time served had completed his parish jail sentences.
Richey was initially incarcerated for the charges on April 5, 2017 and had bonded out Aug. 2, 2017. But his bond was revoked and he remained incarcerated at the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center since then.
LPCC said that Richey was released from jail on Aug. 25.
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