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Police said Harville stole a truck near Fletcher and led multiple law enforcement agencies on a chase that went more than 25 miles and ended when the pickup hit a car driven by Anthony Hufford, 28, of Englewood, on North Dixie Drive. Hufford died at the scene.
As part of a plea deal, a second aggravated vehicular homicide indictment was dismissed, Harville agreed to drop a request to suppress evidence against him and prosecutors agreed to recommended a 10-year prison term. He could have received up to 15.5 years in prison.
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Visiting Judge William Wolff said Harville’s drivers license would be suspended for life.
Miami County Prosecutor Tony Kendell said in court that, given circumstances in the case, he believed the recommended sentence was “just.” Prosecutors and the courts have to work with what is allowed by law, he said, adding the available sentence “pales in comparison to the loss that is suffered.”
After the hearing, Kendell explained further that Harville was not given his Miranda Rights at the accident scene, causing issues with the case.
“The chase terminated in Montgomery County, and Montgomery County had first contact with him. He was not read his Miranda Rights and statements that were made were not going to be able to be used (in prosecuting a case). That certainly factored into my decision with respect to the sentence agreement,” Kendell said.
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Defense lawyer Rob Long of Troy told those in court, “Mr. Harville has asked me to apologize for his actions and for the loss and pain he has caused.”
Harville turned to the family seated in court and said, “I’m sorry.” His comment was met with a curse from a man with the victim’s family. The man was escorted from the courtroom by sheriff’s deputies.
“We will always have a black hole in each of our hearts,” Hufford’s mother, Laura Hufford, said in comments before the sentence was announced. She described her son as “big hearted … a family oriented person.”
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Laura Hufford said it was unfair that Harville would serve a prison term and be released while the family “received life” because of Harville’s actions.
Wolff imposed the recommended sentence. “No amount of time is going to make up for the loss of your son,” he told the Huffords. “I do believe, having reviewed the information in front of me, that the agreed upon sentence of 10 years, under the circumstances … is a fair and just resolution.”
Harville will receive credit for 176 days served in jail since his arrest following the crash. He will not be eligible for any good time or other sentence reduction while in prison. He was ordered to pay $6,000 restitution to Hufford’s family.
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