2-Year Term for Texting Driver in Fatal Oregon Crash

A La Pine, Ore. driver was sentenced Wednesday to more than two years in prison for a fatal crash near Bend that occurred while he was texting his girlfriend who was sitting next to him.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Alta Brady told 29-year-old Erik Conn it was as if he were driving blindfolded last June when he drove into a 16-year-old riding a bike. Forrest Cepeda was crushed into a rock wall and died.

Conn pleaded guilty to criminal negligent homicide in a plea deal to avoid a manslaughter charge.

KTVZ reported Conn apologized in court to Cepeda’s family. Cepeda’s family complained the sentence was too lenient for someone who was texting the person right next to him before the crash.