Caleb Kennedy, recognized for making it to the highest 5 in the course of the nineteenth season of “American Idol,” was sentenced to eight years in jail for a deadly 2022 DUI crash, Fox Information Digital confirmed.
Kennedy, 20, appeared in court docket in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Monday, the place he pleaded responsible to a felony cost of driving underneath the affect the place dying outcomes.
He was sentenced to 25 years in jail with a $25,100 effective, with the sentence suspended to eight years with a $15,100 effective. He’ll serve 5 years of his sentence with the South Carolina Division of Corrections and three in residence detention, with credit score being given for the time he is already served since his arrest.
‘AMERICAN IDOL’ ALUM MANDISA DEATH AT 47 FOLLOWS LIFE OF STRUGGLES, FAITH, INSPIRATION
Caleb Kennedy pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence where death results. (South Carolina Department of Corrections; Eric McCandless/ABC via Getty Images)
Following his release, Kennedy will be placed on probation for five years. He’s also required to receive mental health and substance abuse counseling.
Solicitor Barry J. Barnette, who prosecuted Kennedy, told Fox News Digital, “This case shows the dangers of vape pens to society.” Barnette concluded the use of vape pens led to the death of Larry Parris, 54, the man killed in Kennedy’s crash.
Ryan Beasley, Kennedy’s defense attorney, told Fox Carolina, “First of all, Caleb again wants to express his heartfelt sympathies to the Parris family. Caleb fully accepts his responsibility for this accident and hopes for healing for everyone affected by this tragedy.”
Caleb Kennedy was arrested Feb. 8, 2022. (Spartanburg County Jail via AP)
“He’s obtained no report, and he was a minor when this occurred,” Beasley additionally informed the Greenville Information. “This wasn’t such an egregious act that you see most of the time, where people were drinking and driving then they hit somebody at night or going the wrong way down the road. This was a weird reaction from his prescription medicine and possibly THC.”
Earlier than the Feb. 8, 2022, accident, Kennedy was mentioned by prosecutors to have been smoking marijuana with a vape pen. His protection claimed his Prozac prescription had been elevated on the time and that he’d had a foul response to it.
Kennedy competed on the nineteenth season of “American Idol” however abruptly left after a video surfaced depicting him standing with somebody who gave the impression to be carrying a KKK hood. (Christopher Willard by way of Getty Pictures)
On the time, the South Carolina Freeway Patrol informed Fox Information Digital, “A 2011 Ford pickup was traveling North on West Murph Road when the vehicle traveled onto a private drive … and struck a building. A person inside the building sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision.”
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Kennedy was 16 when he appeared on “American Idol” in 2021, incomes his option to a spot as a finalist earlier than abruptly leaving the competitors after a video surfaced of him standing subsequent to an individual seemingly carrying a Ku Klux Klan hood.
Caleb Kennedy was 16 when he appeared on “American Idol.” (ABC/Eric McCandless)
“Hey y’all, this is gonna be a bit of a surprise, but I am no longer gonna be on American Idol. There was a video that surfaced on the internet and it displayed actions that were not meant to be taken in that way. I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse,” he wrote in a social media put up.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Caleb Kennedy was within the prime 5 when he left the “American Idol” competitors. (ABC/Eric McCandless)
“I wanna say sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down. I’ll be taking a little time off social media to better myself, but saying that, I know this has hurt and disappointed a lot of people and made people lose respect for me. I’m so sorry!”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The singer completed the assertion by saying he prayed at some point he’d acquire again the belief of his followers.
