A Beech Island man has began a one-year prison sentence for last year’s hit & run death of a 15-year-old boy.Prosecutors asked for prison time for Ryan Kelly for running over 15-year-old Errik B. Giles (pictured at right) last year and then driving off as the teen lay dying.
Kelly, 35, struck the teen from behind as he walked along on Hammond Road in Beech Island in January 2016. Kelly was driving westbound in a 2006 Cadillac SUV just after 6 p.m. when he hit the teen and kept going.
Kelly had pleaded guilty last fall to the hit & run death. But the judge wanted a pre-sentencing report before giving his judgment, according to Solicitor J. Strom Thurmond Jr.
Judge Edgar Dickson ultimately ignored a recommendation of straight probation by officials with the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services (PPP).
“At the sentencing, (we) asked for an active sentence as did victim’s family. Victim’s family was present and participated at both the plea and sentencing,” Thurmond said in an email.
Kelly reported to the Aiken County Jail last Monday and was later transported to a state prison to serve his one-year sentence. Once released, he will be on probation for three years. As we reported last year, Kelly was one of the CSRA’s leading gay rights activists, well known as one of the organizers of Augusta’s Gay Pride celebrations and parade.
For more crime news, pick up this week’s edition of The Jail Report.
One year for a drunken, cowardly act that took a kid’s life.. One year…fascinating….and not long after the hit and run was all over Facebook with invites to others to go meet him at bars, etc. This dude is trash. Unrepentant white trash who masked himself as a community do-gooder and professional.
Typical. Justice was not served. Thus is a prime example of how retarded system is. Just like dope house down street thats been going out of control for months now. Let this happen to my kids or any other kid bc aiken county cant clean up county….
He IS a wonderful example for our community. It was an accident and he pled guilty. He feels horrible for it and was very remorseful.
This version of the story doesn’t say that the young man was walking down a dark road (on the road) in dark clothing. It was a terrible accident. But..an accident it was!
You may want to call a repairman… your moral compass is evidently broken. Sane and sober people stop at accidents; criminals run. And most criminals are very remorseful as well.
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I was repeating what the young man’s own parents said. I never blamed him. I said more than once that it was an accident. Maybe it’s YOUR morals that are off. Do NOT put words in my typing. Thanks.
I didn’t have to put anything into your typing. It spoke volumes by itself. You’re welcome.
Sure…spew your bs.
You continue to do most of my job for me. You should quit while you’re behind. Have a wonderful evening.
When people go on and on about others, yet cannot even use their own names to post….ridiculous.
Anonymity… it’s a beautiful thing.. You definitely should try it.