SPOKANE, Wash. — The 30-year-old man who hit a teen on a bicycle in Spokane Valley before fleeing the scene on May 7 was sentenced on Friday.
Stephen Renfro, 31, took a plea deal and was sentenced to 15 months in prison along with 18 months of community supervision. He must also pay the teen $10,000 in restitution because he is unable to work this summer.
Renfro pleaded guilty to vehicular assault and fleeing the scene of an accident.
"I am so sorry," Renfro said in court.
Renfro had two prior DUI convictions. A stipulation in his sentences says if he commits another DUI in the future, it would result in a felony.
Willems father Rich said the sentence isn't long enough for what their family has gone through.
"That night that I walked into ER room I've never been so scared in my life. If he would have been there at that moment I would have killed him. My first thought was is my kid going to live, walk again," he said
Renfro struck Conrad Willems, 17, who was riding a bicycle at the intersection of Wellesley Ave. and Harvard Road in Spokane Valley on May 7 shortly after 9 p.m., according to a Spokane County search warrant.
According to the warrant, Renfro hit the boy with his green Chevrolet Silverado while driving eastbound on Wellesley. Willems was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital with serious injuries including a fractured pelvis and a fractured tibia, according to the warrant.
Witnesses at the scene said Renfro ran a stop sign and hit the teen before fleeing the scene, according to the warrant.
After he was stopped, Renfro allegedly refused to take a field sobriety test but admitted to drinking "two or three beers," according to the warrant. Officers also observed that Renfro had red eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol, according to the warrant.
Renfro had a suspended license at the time of the hit-and-run and was missing an ignition interlock system that he was required to have in his vehicle, according to the warrant.