Man Pleads Guilty In Fatal Drunken Driving Crash

The man shown with alcohol in Facebook photos after being charged in a fatal drunken driving accident will serve two years in prison.

Jason Isbell, 21, pleaded guilty Monday to felony driving under the influence resulting in death, and reckless homicide in connection with an early-morning crash on Nov. 1, 2008, that killed passenger Travis Pettus. The crash happened on Ridge Road, near Clover.

Police said Isbell’s blood-alcohol level was 0.176, which is more than double the legal limit.

After the crash, Pettus’ parents said they searched Facebook for photos of their son, but instead came across pictures of Isbell, who was out of jail on bond, and out of state with alcohol. Traveling out of state violated a bond order, and prosecutors said Isbell was still underage in some of the pictures that show him drinking alcohol.

“It just was heartbreaking to us that anyone would do that, after being involved in something like that," David Pettus said.

In a hearing last month, a judge modified Isbell's bond to require that he not drink and that he submit to random alcohol tests.

On Monday, a judge sentenced Isbell to 10 years in prison, suspended after he completes two years.

Isbell also faces three years of probation, during which he won't be allowed to be any place where the primary focus is alcohol. His driver's license is also suspended.

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