JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The man who pleaded guilty to DUI in the hit-and-run death of a 22-year-old man outside the Jacksonville Landing in August was sentenced Tuesday.
Brian Patterson, 32, was sentenced to six months in jail with credit for 21 days served and placed on a year of probation. He was also fined $1,000, ordered to enroll in a drug and alcohol rehab program while in jail, and had his license suspended for a year.
Patterson did not say anything in court. Walter Evans, Taylor's father, did make an emotional victim impact statement.
"My son also had a daughter, who he'll never see again," he said before turning to Patterson and addressing him directly. "So know that due to your actions, you played a significant role in all the pain and suffering that my family is having."
Patterson was driving a truck that hit Taylor Evans (pictured, below), who died a few days later.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene of fighting and screaming in a parking lot across the street from the Landing that night, according to documents released by the state attorney's office.
Greg Johnson (pictured, below) is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Evans after investigators said Johnson started a fight with Patterson while Patterson was driving the truck that ran over Evans.
According to the documents, there were conflicting accounts of what those in the parking lot saw. Some believe the problem started when a guy punched a girl, while others say a car may have bumped into someone.
Nearly everyone involved had been drinking that night, including Evans, according to the documents.
In fact, Patterson's blood alcohol content registered at .127, well over the legal limit, bringing the DUI charge on him.
Johnson's next court date is scheduled for March.
As for Patterson, the state considered upgrade his charge to DUI manslaughter but did not.
Patterson, who's from Macclenny, has since gotten a DUI arrest in Baker County. That case is still pending.