A 24-year-old Hershey man has been sentenced to probation for felony motor vehicle homicide.

Micah Koch appeared for sentencing in a packed Lincoln County District Court Room on Monday.

Judge Donald Rowlands moved Koch’s sentencing up on the docket to accommodate the large number of people in attendance.

Prosecutors say Koch was drunk when he crashed his pickup near Sutherland in January of 2013.

Koch missed a turn and crashed into a ditch, killing 24-year-old Korey Huebner and injuring 28-year-old Jay Shotkoski.  Koch was also injured.

Koch was called to the stand by his attorney, Blaine Gillett, prior to sentencing.

He asked Koch what steps he had taken to address his use of alcohol.

Koch stated that he had participated successfully in long-term inpatient and outpatient treatment programs, had acquired a counselor and a sponsor, and regularly attends a church-based “Celebrate Recovery” program.

Gillett then asked Koch if he had consumed alcohol since the accident, and Koch said that he had not.

Lincoln County Attorney, Rebecca Harling, declined to cross-examine Koch.

Harling then stated that this had been a tragedy for the victim’s family.

“They won’t be the same,” Harling said.

She then conceded that Koch had received the lowest score on his pre-sentence investigation evaluation that she had seen in 20 years as a prosecutor, indicating that Koch was an extremely low risk to reoffend.  It also indicated that Koch was a good candidate for probation.

However, she said Koch’s denial of being the driver of the vehicle, and his failure to acknowledge that he even knew Korey immediately after the accident, continues to haunt the family.

Gillett then addressed the court.

“Everyone wants to undo what happened on January 27, 2013,” Gillett said.  “The victim was a loving sister, daughter and friend, and people miss her.”

He then said that Koch had entered a plea, not to a reduced charge, but to the worst charge possible.  He added that Koch had taken responsibility, both criminally and civilly, and was extremely remorseful for what had happened.

Before Judge Rowlands handed down the sentence, Koch had the opportunity to speak.

Koch said not a day goes by that he doesn’t think of Korey.

“I wish I could go back and change what happened, but I can’t,” Koch said.

Judge Rowlands then noted Koch’s minimal criminal record, and the fact that he had scored extremely low on the evaluation he was given in the pre-sentence investigation.

However, he said he didn’t understand why Koch denied that he was driving and denied that he knew Korey.  He pointed out that Koch had referred to Korey as, “his best friend since the age of five,” and should have provided her with help after the crash.

“I don’t know why you didn’t hold her hand in the last minutes of life,” Rowlands said.

He then sentenced Koch to five years of probation.

The felony probation order included 180 days in jail, a five-year license suspension, regular breath, blood or urine testing, and ordered him to compose a letter to Korey’s family.  Koch is also prohibited from entering any establishment whose primary source of income is derived from the sale of alcohol.

Koch was remanded to the custody of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office to serve his jail sentence.  He was given credit for 37 days already served.