Spokane, WASH– A Spokane man who crashed his car and killed his passenger was sentenced today to 12 months of electronic home monitoring after the victim’s family urged the court to spare him from prison.
Julien B. Hart, 24, pleaded guilty in Spokane County Superior Court to Vehicular Homicide – Disregard for the Safety of Others according to Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
According to court documents Hart was driving in the middle of the road at roughly twice the posted speed limit before his car struck a curb and rolled into a fence. His passenger, Caden Richardson, was trapped inside and died despite emergency care from a bystander and responding medics.
Richardson’s family told the court they had fully forgiven Hart — who was Richardson’s best friend — and asked for no additional jail time. “No amount of jail time could make this tragedy any better,” the family said.
Hart was sentenced to 12 months of electronic home monitoring, followed by 12 months of community custody, and ordered to wear an alcohol monitoring device at all times.
The March 2025 crash occurred in Spokane Valley.
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