UPDATE: Prosecutor Speaks About Plea In Deadly Vilonia Road Rage Accident
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: May 29, 2012
"He entered a plea of no contest to first degree murder, four counts," said prosecuting attorney Cody Hiland, "And received ten years for that."
Russell Johnston,31, who was partially paralyzed in the accident, entered into a road rage disagreement with James Holian,40, and were purposefully trying to hurt one another on September 12, 2010.
That recklessness caused a wreck with a vehicle carrying the San Felippo family.
" Actions have consequences," said Hiland, "And in this case it was an incredibly selfish decision on the part of both defendants they acted without regard for anybody else on the road."
Holian the co-defendant in the case, also charged with four counts of first degree murder, was sentenced to 20 years for his role by a jury in September of 2011.
The prosecutor said it was determined there was more evidence against Holian in the case.
"When you get behind the wheel of a car and act like a moron," Hiland said, "Bad things can happen, tragic things can happen and that's what happened here."
The sole survivor of that deadly crash in the courtroom Tuesday; lost her son, husband, in-laws and almost her own life in the accident.
"Hope the plea today gives her some measure of justice," said Hiland, "Justice is a very poor substitute for family members, but that's all the justice system has to give to her."
Putting to rest a horrific accident many in the community won't soon forget.
"It's always nice to get closure in a case like this," Hiland said, "Obviously it had an impact on our community."
That sole survivor in the courtroom Tuesday was able to deliver an emotional victim impact statement.
A man charged in a deadly 2010 road rage accident that killed four people in Vilonia has pleaded no contest in the case.
Russell Johnston, 31, is the second person to be sentenced to a long prison term in the incident.
He received a 10-year term and must serve seven years behind bars before being eligible for parole.
The multi-car accident happened on Highway 64 in September 2010.
The other man charged in the case, James Charles Holian, 39, went to trial in September 2011 and was found guilty. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and must serve 14 years before being eligible for parole.
Investigators say Holian and Johnston were driving recklessly trying to hurt one another with their cars in a road rage wrangle that had been going on for miles when that accident happened.
One had done something on the road to make the other mad. The prosecutor says they were swerving all over the road and Johnston's car eventually crossed into oncoming traffic and drove head on into two cars.
Frank, Judith, John and Jersey Sanfelippo were killed. Marilyn Sanfelippo suffered serious injuries. Two others in another car were also injured.
