HANCOCK COUNTY — The man who admitted guilt earlier this summer to driving while impaired causing an accident killing another, was officially sentenced Tuesday, Nov. 10 to a 10-year term.
Iran Leroy Taylor, 22, Indianapolis, had already pled guilty to felony charges during a change of plea hearing in July related to a two-car crash in February in which Reno Cook, 22, of New Castle, died.
Taylor was accused of being under the influence of THC — the active ingredient in marijuana — on the day he drove his car into the path of another vehicle at a Hancock County intersection. Cook and three other men were passengers in Taylor’s car.
Taylor admitted his guilt as part of the plea agreement and was sentenced by Judge Marie Castetter, Hancock County Superior Court 1, Tuesday morning to the 10-year sentence. Castetter ordered five years to be executed in prison; five years suspended to probation with the first three served through home detention.
The plea agreement between Taylor and the prosecutor’s office called for Taylor to admit guilt to a Level 4 felony count of causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a scheduled I or II controlled substance; as well as admitting guilt to two Level 5 felony counts of causing serious bodily injury when operating a motor vehicle with a scheduled I or II controlled substance.
Cook family members spoke during the sentencing hearing telling the court he was the center of their lives and is greatly missed. Deputy prosecutor, Kevin Kelly noted after the hearing the family was pleased with the sentencing.
“I’d had met with them and spoken with them quite often about the case and they understood nothing the judge could do would bring him back,” Kelly said. “Taylor got the most time served as he could according to the plea agreement.”
The agreement included a sentence cap of five years in prison with all counts to run concurrently. A pre-sentence investigation had called for a five-year prison term and another five on probation and community corrections, which is what Castetter handed down.
Marietto Massillamany, Fishers, represented Taylor. He presented a case showing his client had been sexually abused as a child, then taken advantage of when he was a teenager and contracted AIDS. Massillamany noted the abuses Taylor suffered during his youth led to drug abuse.
“There is no good answer in a situation like this,” Massillamany said. “He understands what he did and is remorseful. The problem is this kid was molested and taken advantage of most of his young life and has battled addiction because of it.”
Taylor’s mother testified her son was never the same after being molested. Massillamany is hopeful his client can get the help he needs while in prison and lead a productive life when he gets out.
Kelly noted these types of cases are always difficult when a life is lost, saying the criminal justice system revolves around punishing actions.
“In this example Taylor had marijuana in his system, but we could not tell when it was consumed or if he was even under the influence at the time of the crash and absent that, this is a car accident,” Kelly said.
