A man who admitted to killing a motorcyclist in 2020 when he crashed into him while on illegal drugs had been already been convicted of three previous DWIs and of crashing into a teenager on a bike without stopping to help.
Lawrence J. Furlow, 56, pleaded guilty to fourth-offense DWI and negligent homicide and was sentenced to 20 years in state prison as part of a deal with Ascension Parish prosecutors.Â
Around 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2020, Furlow turned his Chevy Tahoe left from La. 74 toward Chester Diez Road and into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, state troopers said at the time. He hit Jarrod Miller, 33, of Gonzales head-on, troopers said.
Miller, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said then.
Furlow told state troopers later that he didn't see the motorcycle because it had its headlights off and was moving quickly.
State Police tests of Furlow's blood turned up evidence of marijuana, cocaine, amphetamine and clonazepam.
Before Furlow's plea last week, prosecutors were preparing to ask a judge to let them raise at trial his 2011 convictions for the 2010 hit-and-run that seriously injured the teen.
In the May 29, 2010, crash, Furlow hit a 15-year-old boy riding his bicycle along Cannon Road near J. Leo Stevens Park outside Gonzales around 2 a.m. and didn't stop to render aid, court papers say.
Following a tip, sheriff's deputies tracked Furlow to his home and saw damage to his Chevy sport utility vehicle that roughly matched the circumstances of the crash, court papers say.
Furlow told deputies that he hit something on Cannon and had heard a thud but believed that he had hit an animal.
In a 2011 plea, Furlow was billed as a habitual offender then and was given a six-year prison sentence for the hit-and-run and marijuana convictions.
In the 2020 fatal crash, Furlow had been set for trial last Wednesday in Gonzales before 23rd Judicial District Judge Steven Tureau.
But on the day jury selection was to begin, Furlow accepted the plea offer from Assistant District Attorney Leila Braswell that eliminated his risk of being charged again as a habitual offender.
In addition to the DWI fourth conviction, Furlow also pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of negligent homicide.
Furlow apologized to Miller's family during the plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday.
