A jury on Monday found former UNC student Chandler Kania guilty of involuntary manslaughter – but not second-degree murder – in the trial surrounding the wrong-way crash on I-85 last summer that left three people dead.
Following a brief sentencing hearing, Judge Henry Hight sentenced Kania to a total of 153 to 196 months in prison – a minimum of slightly less than 13 years in prison, up to a maximum of just over 16 years.
Kania had already pleaded guilty to three counts of felony death by motor vehicle, among other charges, but prosecutors decided to move forward with the murder trial.
At issue was intent: jurors had to decide whether Kania had acted with “malice.” Deliberations began on Thursday and lasted all day Friday and most of Monday before the jury reached a verdict.
Ultimately, the jury did not find that Kania had acted with malice – but jurors did agree on a guilty verdict on the lesser involuntary manslaughter charge. They also found him guilty of reckless driving.
The fatal crash occurred on July 19 of last year. 46-year-old Darlene McGee, 49-year-old Felicia Harris, and 6-year-old Jahnice Beard were killed, and 9-year-old Jahnia King was injured. Kania’s blood alcohol level registered at more than twice the legal limit; he was also underage at the time.
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