Man Sentenced In Death Of Lowell Police Chief

A Florida man was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison in connection with the May 4 death of Lowell police chief Joe Landers.

Landers was making a turn with a group of bikers at a Panama City, Fla., motorcycle rally April 27 when he was hit. He died a week later at a Bay County, Fla., Hospital.

Jimmy John Christo, 52, of Panama City pled guilty to first-degree felony leaving an accident and driving while intoxicated manslaughter, said Bob Sombathy, state prosecutor in Bay County who handled the case. Misdemeanor counts included leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, possession of 20 grams or less of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, a marijuana pipe, Sombathy said.

Christo was sentenced to 12 years in prison and five years probation. Florida law requires him to serve a minimum of four years and he must serve 85 percent of his sentence, Sombathy said. His driver’s license has also been revoked.

Police found Christo on April 27, 2011 sitting in his car and covered in glass. Bystanders photographed him driving away and Christo’s blood alcohol level was 0.22, more than twice Florida’s 0.08 limit, Sombathy said.

“We had a very strong case,” he said.

Christo was out on bond, but was taken into custody in the courtroom. His sentence will start immediately.

Christo’s attorney, James White, didn’t return a call requesting comment.

The case was an open plea to the court, Sombathy said. A plea deal would have needed the support of the family and law enforcement in Florida and Arkansas, he said.

“We can’t come up with a number on this man’s life,” he said.

Landers’ daughter was in the courtroom and the family seemed satisfied with the outcome, Sombathy said.

“Justice will be served,” family members posted early Thursday on the Pray for Joe Landers Facebook page.

“We’re just kinda surprised at how light the sentence was,” said Randy Harvey, appointed Lowell police chief after Landers’ death.

Nothing would truly replace the man they lost, Harvey said. Landers served for 15 years as police chief. Closure is difficult when the accident was so far away, Harvey said. Landers planned to work for the city for another five years and then retire, Harvey said.

“It’s just like he left on vacation and never came back,” Harvey said. “It kinda puts you at a loss for words.”

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