ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The son of former Orange County Commissioner Homer Hartage was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday. Darnell Lytch pled guilty Thursday and admitted he caused a drunk driving crash that killed a man two years ago.
"He was just a good kid who did good things for people and people loved him," Robbie Hartsock tearfully said as she told the judge about her son.
Gary Hartsock, 24, was riding in the bed of a pick-up truck on the 408 when 38-year-old Darnell Lytch caused the accident that killed him. Hartsock was thrown from the truck when it flipped over and another vehicle hit him.
Lytch escaped with only minor injuries. His blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit and police found a bottle of vodka in his car.
"It's hard for me to live, something that's always on my mind," Lytch said in court Friday.
Lytch's father, former Orange County Commissioner Homer Hartage, and candidate for Orange County school board chair, told the judge his college-educated son is a good man, raising three children on his own and had thoughts of suicide in the months after the crash. He also broke down as he empathized with the victim's family.
"When I hear Robbie talk about her son and realize he's not here, that touched my heart," Hartage said.
Initially, prosecutors agreed to a seven-year plea deal, but Hartsock's family wanted more and the judge sentenced Lytch to ten years.
"I believe Gary is happy where he is, buy my sky just isn't as blue," Robbie Hartsock said.
Lytch also has to serve three years probation once he's released.
WFTV
