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Posted: January 29

Driver sentenced to prison for fatal accident at school bus stop

Boy killed trying to board Harnett County school bus

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Lillington, N.C. — A Sanford man has been sentenced to no more than 17 months in prison for a wreck last fall at a school bus stop that killed a 12-year-old boy.

Adam Kempf, a seventh-grade student at Coats-Erwin Middle School, was trying to board a bus on N.C. Highway 27 near Bill Avery Road on Oct. 25 when he was hit by a van and killed.

Fernando Ortiz-Soto swerved but couldn't avoid the boy, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Ortiz-Soto pleaded guilty Monday to a felony charge of passing a stopped school bus resulting in death and a misdemeanor charge of driving without a license.

Superior Court Judge Winston Gilchrist sentenced him to between six and 17 months in prison, saying that his lack of prior criminal record precluded a longer sentence.

Web Editor: Matthew Burns

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29 Comments

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why does the lack of a prior record preclude a longer sentence? Do you think it matters to the dead boy or his family whether this man had a record or not when he broke the law and killed the child? I would be very upset if I were the family, to know that a 6-17 MONTH sentence is what happens when a child - innocent of doing anything - dies

larterl
January 30, 2013 3:48 p.m.

Here we go again with the legal and illegal issue. I have to admit his sentence isn't acceptable, but we have to understand that this could happen to anyone hispanic, white or black so please keep your racial comments to yourselves.

Sweet summertime
January 30, 2013 12:56 p.m.

17 months for driving illegally and killing a child. You can get 12 for killing your neighbors dog. Doesn't say much for the value this judge and DA put on a child.

kermit60
January 30, 2013 12:19 p.m.

This man took a life,so he should get life,this young boy's life was taken away way to early,what has happened to our justice system,I don't care what color he is it's just not right,my point is he should not have been driving period,and his time is way to short for the death of a beautiful 12 year old boy.my thought's and prayer's are with the family,may he rest in peace,God Bless.

goosiepop4csr
January 30, 2013 12:06 p.m.

What a bunch of bull from the Superior Court Judge Winston Gilchrist. 17 months for a childs life. The child was 12 years old, say he would have lived to be 72. thats 60 years taken away from that child and that man only has to serve 17 months. the man had total disregard for our laws in this country when he put himself behind the wheel. Superior Court Judge Winston Gilchrist should be kicked off the bench for this low amount of time to serve.

pipcolt
January 29, 2013 5:00 p.m.

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