By Dunn Daily Record
HARNETT COUNTY – Harnett County Deputy Kevin Joseph Letarte, 38, pleaded no contest to two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle for the wreck that killed Brian and Patricia Finch on March 3, 2023.
Letarte was in pursuit of a speeding car on N.C. Highway 210 when he crashed into the Finches, who were crossing 210 onto Ray Road under a green light, at 2:01 p.m. near Spring Lake.
Brian Finch, 65, and his wife, Patricia Finch, 64, both of East Gull Lake, Michigan, died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Letarte crashed into the Finches’ truck at an estimated 77 mph. Traffic lights were red in the deputy’s direction of travel.
Letarte “entered the intersection of NC 210 and Ray Road at a high rate of speed, failing to reduce his speed to avoid a collision with the Finches, who had entered the intersection in compliance with the traffic signal,” stated a release from the Harnett County District Attorney’s Office.
A Harnett County Grand Jury indicted Letarte on two charges of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths. Those charges were class F felonies, punishable by up to 10-20 months in prison. Letarte surrendered a no contest plea to the two misdemeanors, instead.
A “no contest plea” allows a defendant to accept the consequences of a conviction without admitting guilt.
Resident Superior Court Judge C. Winston Gilchrist sentenced Letarte to 75 days in the Harnett County jail, suspended for 18 months of unsupervised probation.
Letarte was ordered to continue with his current course of mental health treatment, according to the release.
The misdemeanor conviction requires a one-year suspension of Letarte’s driver’s license. His law enforcement certification status, needed for service in law enforcement, will be up to the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission.
District Attorney Suzanne Matthews prosecuted the case.
Parrish Daughtry represented Letarte in court.
Wow, just a slap on the wrist for killing two people. Maybe because he’s part of the system? The justice system is a joke.
Wait! OK you kill 2 innocent people and you WALK, something they will never do again!?!?! What a load of BS!!! No Justice!!
Another example of ‘the system’ covering up for their incompetent staff. No accountability. Completely unacceptable! The system and this officer should be ashamed. What a pathetic situation and terrible result for the loved ones who lost 2 family members. Complete tragedy!
Wow …. Now THAT’S disturbing.
What in the world could I possibly say that the people above have not already said? How about why the h*ll isn’t that guy in jail where he belongs for killing two people?!
NC justice.
I am pro Police and have a world of respect for the thankless job they do but in this case this officer did wrong, very wrong. I understand chases have to be done and I am in favor of them but that does not mean they can run intersections without caution. This is the first I am hearing of this story, so I want to say prayers for the family of the deceased.
Definitely agree with all comments here. Unacceptable!
I watched a Northside fire truck and ambulance running full lights and sirens to a call on 42 East yesterday. When they got to the red light in front of Publix, they stopped, checked and slowly went through because they are supposed to do it that way. He didn’t to what he was supposed to do and two people paid for it.
Yes, first of all what happened was a tragedy.. We all can agree on that… However, please stop saying the justice system is failing when the citizens are the ones who put these judges and DA’s in office.. The same people who are all up here saying how bad it is are the very people who voted for these positions. Also, did anyone not notice the MENTAL TREATMENT he is receiving as well? Also, I have heard some of the same people up here talking trash about people running from the police in the past and when they wrecked it’s all good… This Deputy was trying to stop someone who was speeding away from him… I guess the irony in this will go unseen by everyone.. #dobetter
Man all y’all can shut the h*ll up with that cry baby sh*t North Carolina is mad racist an not much has changed to use to you people you think it has cause you can’t run over people like you use to so all the responding comments go to h*ll and change your self before replying to comments
LOL.. brother man, you need a hug? You legit seem really really angry.. Maybe, you should take a deep breathe, count to 10 and chill out. North Carolina is one of the most non racist states out there.. We have all kind of race, religions and ethnicities living in the Tarheel state. I think maybe if you lose your victim status you might find out that people aren’t that bad.. Now, if this was Alabama or West Virginia.. I would maybe believe you..
No hugs needed born and raised in North Carolina Smithfield Johnston county got illegally searched many of times and nothing was found by police in North Carolina got beaten by the police and had my head busted open and woke up in the police station hand cuffed to a wheelchair by a old Benson police officer in North Carolina I’m not your brother u can say what u want my it’s good for you but not everyone else so like I said go to h*ll and speak for your self