Macon County man pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter charge, receives probation

CALIFORNIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Atlanta, Missouri, man pleaded guilty to second-degree involuntary manslaughter Friday at the Moniteau County Courthouse.

Joseph Harrington, 34, was given a suspended sentence of four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, with five years of supervised probation.

Harrington was initially charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter in relation to a fatal wreck on Nov. 4, 2020, at Highway 50 and Petree Road in Moniteau County.

Court documents say Harrington was traveling eastbound and a pickup driver was traveling west when Harrington's vehicle allegedly crossed the center line, causing the pickup driver to travel off the road.

Harrington allegedly told a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper that he did not remember the crash.Harrington was initially issued citations for failing to maintain the required braking system and failing to drive on the right side of the road.