The man charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run collision in August of 2020, Alan Barnett, entered an Alford guilty plea in Christian Circuit Court Wednesday.
Barnett had been charged with leaving the scene of an accident with failure to render aid with death or serious injury, and he entered an Alford plea to that charge—an Alford plea is a guilty plea where the defendant maintains their innocence, but acknowledges that there is enough evidence to result in a conviction should the case go to trial.
Barnett told the judge he had considered going to trial, but he’s ready to move past this case for benefit of everyone involved.
The plea deal comes with a recommended five-year sentence to be diverted to probation for that time, and Judge Andrew Self accepted his plea—they waived formal sentencing, with Judge Self following the recommended sentence.
Barnett is charged with leaving the scene of an accident with a death or serious injury after he allegedly had been headed north in the 13000 block of Madisonville Road about 5:40 a.m. on August 19, 2020 and struck a bicycle ridden by 20-year-old Jared Yoder.
Yoder was pronounced dead at the scene. Barnett was arrested two days later at his home.