19-year-old gets five years for vehicular homicide
Teen’s blood alcohol level was over limit; Ronald Holden died in wreck

Cries broke out Thursday in Judge Frank Jordan Jr.’s courtroom when he sentenced James Clay Huguley to five years in prison for the vehicular homicide of his friend.

It was more than defense attorney Robert Jones had wanted. Moments before, Jones motioned to the dozen people standing nearby in support of the 19-year-old, and he asked the Muscogee County Superior Court judge for no more than a year’s incarceration.

“These were the best of friends, Judge,” Jones said. “He’s told me, if he could change places with RJ, he’d do it.”

Huguley was indicted on three counts of first-degree vehicular homicide. On Thursday, Huguley pleaded guilty to one count in connection with the death of Ronald F. Holden, 19, on May 19, 2009. The other two counts were dismissed.

Huguley was driving a 1989 Dodge Ram west on J.R. Allen Parkway near Bradley Park Drive when the fatal wreck occurred, police said. Holden, a passenger in the vehicle, died at the scene.

“While he was on the J.R. Allen Parkway, I’ve got four or five individual witnesses who would be prepared to testify that this defendant was going 80 to 90 miles per hour, weaving in and out of traffic,” said Assistant District Attorney Wesley Lambertus.

Huguley hit a guardrail near the Bradley Park exit, overcompensated and collided with a tree, the prosecutor said. Holden died and Huguley was thrown from the vehicle.

A blood test later revealed an alcohol content of .16 - almost eight times the legal limit for minors, Lambertus said - and twice the legal limit for adults.

Attorney Frank Martin, who also represents Huguley, said Holden’s grandmother and adoptive mother didn’t want Huguley to go to prison. Holden's uncle, Earl Spann, agreed.

“It’s a tragedy and we feel sorry for the families and they feel sorry for us,” Spann said. “I think (Huguley) will achieve a lot, a great deal in life, if you give him a chance.”

Lambertus said he wanted a sentence of 10 years in prison, followed by five on probation.

“This is a minor,” he said. “He shouldn’t be consuming alcohol in the first place.

Jordan opted for five years in prison, followed by 10 on probation.