WASHINGTON - Tears flowed in a Washington County courtroom Wednesday as a Fallowfield Township man was sentenced for his role in a 2001 accident that claimed the life of 10-year-old Andrew Latta.
Adam Cramer, 20, of 16 Evans Road, pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle relative to the Oct. 5 crash on Bentleyville Road. Cramer was traveling 55 mph to 60 mph on the rural, curvy road. The speed limit on Bentleyville Road is 35 mph. He lost control of the sport utility vehicle he was driving and struck and killed the young boy.
Andrew, a Bentworth Elementary student, was walking along the road with two friends when the accident occurred.
Judge Katherine B. Emery sentenced Cramer to 7 1/2 to 23 months in the Washington County Correctional Facility for the third degree felony. Emery noted that Cramer has no prior criminal record and holds a job. He will be granted work release while in jail.
Cramer could have faced up to seven years in prison, or, at minimum, probation.
The penalty provided little comfort to Andrew's parents, Gina and Andrew "Dane" Latta, who called the sentence a "joke."
"He killed a little boy, waited two years before pleading guilty and gets seven months on work release - we definitely feel justice wasn't served for our son's death," his father said after the hearing.
He asked Emery to sentence Cramer to at least two years in a state correctional facility so "he could think about what he has done."
Cramer, wearing a tan suit, listened somberly as six of Andrew's relatives presented emotional victim impact statements before Emery imposed the sentence.
The elder Latta angrily said the incident could have been prevented. Two years before the fatal crash, Latta allegedly saw Cramer speeding through his neighborhood. He stopped Cramer, at which time a confrontation took place that led both men to a hearing before District Justice Curt Thompson in Bentleyville.
"He was told to slow down and I was told to keep my hands off of minors," Latta said. "I was looking out for my son and other kids in the neighborhood and 19 months later he takes my boy's life."
Andrew's parents and relatives described him as a loving, energetic boy who loved playing baseball, basketball, football and other sports.
They said he liked to play with his friends, and looked forward to getting his driver's license and going to concerts with his twin older sisters, Noel and Nicole Latta, who just graduated from Bentworth High School.
"He was the perfect little boy," his father said as tears streamed down his face. "I would give my life just to have two seconds back with my boy."
Gina Latta said she has nightmares about the accident every night. Andy's room is the same way he left it the day he died, and they can't bear to box and put away his clothes and toys.
The Lattas and other relatives all said they never felt closure over Andy's death because they were unable to have an open casket during his funeral and tell him goodbye.
Noel Latta smiled through her tears when she recalled her brother's blue hair and his desire to get a tattoo when he turned 16.
"I beat myself up everyday because I don't remember if I told him I loved him that day," Noel Latta testified.
Andy's best friend, Isaiah Manfredi, 14, said the two were "like brothers," as both families shared outings and holidays together. He sobbed as he told the judge how the two of them made plans to play baseball together in high school and to learn to drive.
"He (Cramer) needs a big enough punishment to match our loss," the teen-ager said.
Noel Latta left the courtroom when Cramer took the stand. He expressed remorse for Andy's death.
"If I could, I would switch places with Andrew in a heartbeat," Cramer said as he wiped away the tears.
During questioning by his attorney, Raymond Amatangelo, Cramer said he left his sister's house on Oct. 5 after receiving a call that the security system alarm at his house went off. Cramer's mother, Sandra, has a rare disease, and he said he was concerned for her.
After the sentence was imposed, Sandra Cramer said her son was "protecting me," and felt that he was punished fairly by taking responsibility for the incident. She said they never got to "say their side," as they were told not to say anything to the family after the incident.
Cramer graduated from Charleroi Area High School in 2000 and studied mechanical engineering at Triangle Tech.
After the crash, he sought counseling, but quit after several sessions because he lost his health insurance. He recently joined the Fallowfield Township Fire Co. and is working in Charleroi.
In imposing the sentence, Emery said there was "no punishment big enough for this," and told the Latta family to keep "going for Andrew's memory."
Emery chastised Cramer for speeding on a road he admittedly travels daily, saying he should have known to slow down.
She also told him he should have shown remorse to the Latta family before the day of sentencing and criticized him for driving the day after the fatal accident.
"The fact that you continued to drive indeed shows a lack of maturity and understanding for the impact this has had on the community," Emery said.
Emery also suggested the Cramers relocate, because his "presence causes pain for the Latta family."
She ordered Cramer to pay $10,300 in restitution to the Lattas, complete 200 hours of community service, lose his license for four years, obtain counseling and speak to teen-agers in driver's education courses about the dangers of speeding.
"You need to do this for Andy, to keep his memory alive," Emery said.
Andy's family has established two scholarships in his memory and conducted an "Andy Fest" in October to raise money. His father said they have enough money raised to fund the scholarships until 2012.
