Ponce Sentenced

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Ponce Sentenced

By Nick Lough

Story Published: Aug 25, 2008 at 7:17 PM MST

Story Updated: Aug 26, 2008 at 7:22 AM MST

BILLINGS - A Billings man takes a plea deal and is now cleared of causing a January fatal drunk driving crash in Billings.

Joseph Ponce is sentenced to 6 years with 3 suspended and fined $1,000 for leaving the scene of a fatal accident in January. He also received suspended sentences for DUI and driving without insurance.

Court records say Ponce had a .138 blood alcohol level when he clipped another vehicle killing its passenger, 35-year-old James Thole. Investigators determined the driver of the other car, Eric Lybecker, was at fault for the accident.

Lybecker plead guilty to vehicular homicide on April 21.

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