Teen to serve maximum sentence in reckless homicide case

GREENFIELD, Ind. (WISH) – A boy who killed a 22-year-old while driving drunk was given the maximum sentence Tuesday.

According to 24-Hour News 8 partner, The Greenfield Daily Reporter, Timothy Hughes plead guilty to six felonies and one misdemeanor. He admitted he was driving drunk when he struck Carla McCloud and her cousin, Amanda Wheeler with his car. He killed McCloud and seriously injured Wheeler while they were bike riding along the road.

After hearing around four hours of testimony, Hancock Circuit Court Judge Richard Culver sentenced Hughes to 9 1/2 years in prison.

Even though Hughes was 17 when the incident happened, he was tried as an adult.

Culver called Hughes selfish, destructive and likely to offend again.

Hughes was charged with reckless homicide, operating while intoxicated causing death, operating with a .08 percent or higher blood-alcohol level causing death, operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, operating with a .08 percent or higher blood alcohol level causing injury, possession of a narcotic drug and illegal possession of an alcoholic beverage.

He apologized to McCloud’s family and his own after he admitted to the crimes and that he abuses drugs and alcohol.

“If there was any way I could change what happened, or anything I could do to bring her back, I would do it,” Hughes said. “I would gladly switch places with her if I could.”

Hughes promised in his first court appearance that he would get clean and make better choices. But he was rearrested because he was caught using drugs awaiting trial.

“He was going to do this sooner or later to somebody,” Carla’s father, Ken McCloud, said. “I’m just said it had to be my daughter.”