HENDERSON, Texas — A man accused of a fatal hit-and-run crash in 2023 that killed a Henderson Middle School student pleaded guilty in court Wednesday.
According to court records obtained from the 4th District Court in Rusky County, Jake Ryan Norman pleaded guilty to an accident involving death and sentenced to 45 days in the county jail in addition to 10 years of deferred adjudication.
Norman reportedly waived his right of trial by jury and entered a plea deal.
According to an arrest affidavit, Norman struck the 14-year-old boy, who was riding on his scooter, on W. Main Street and he left the scene of the crash.
A witness of the crash reported seeing the scooter in the air, but they did not see the boy. He was located and then pronounced dead at the scene, the document showed.
The affidavit states that investigators used video footage and an interview from a witness to identify the suspect vehicle. The document notes that the vehicle was moving at a high rate of speed.
After still photos from the video were circulated, the attorney who is representing Norman contacted a judge saying that Norman wanted to turn himself in to authorities, the affidavit stated.
Per judicial records, Norman was booked into the Rusk County Jail on May 13, 2024 and later released on bond.
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