A DeKalb County man will spend 20 years in prison for killing a Lithonia woman and her 3-year-old granddaughter while fleeing police, prosecutors said.
Jeremiah Maurice Warthen, 28, pleaded guilty Thursday to multiple counts of vehicular homicide in connection with the March 2013 deaths of Jordan Haynes and her 57-year-old grandmother Alicia Moxley.
DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Gregory Adams gave Warthen a 30-year sentence with 20 to serve in prison followed by 10 years of probation, court officials said.
On the night of the incident, Warthen was on parole for previous felony convictions, including aggravated assault and pimping, authorities said.
After being stopped by police near the intersection of Snapfinger Woods and East Wesley Chapel Road, authorities said Warthen drove away when the officer approached his vehicle.
Prosecutors said was going as fast as 70 mph in a 25-mph speed zone when the SUV he was driving struck a sedan carrying three adults and three children.
Moxley and young Jordan died at the scene of the wreck, authorities said.
The 17-year-old girl driving the car, a 58-year-old man, and two boys ages 7 and 5 survived, though suffered either serious or critical injuries, police said.
A passenger riding with Warthen at the time of the wreck also was arrested, police said.
Warthen was indicted in June 2013 and charged with multiple counts of first-degree homicide by vehicle, as well as multiple counts of serious injury by vehicle, aggravated assault on a peace officer, fleeing or attempting to elude police, drug trafficking and driving while on a suspended license, according to court records.
He had been held at the DeKalb County jail without bond and will be turned over to the custody of Georgia Department of Corrections, authorities said.
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