A man that pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and failure to remain at an accident, both third-degree felonies, after hitting a victim twice with his car received sentencing in Seventh District Court on Monday.
For conviction of the aggravated assault charge, 34-year-old Matthew Alan Thatcher was sentenced to serve a term not to exceed five years at the Utah State Prison. That term was suspended pending the completion of 36 months of probation. Per terms of the probation, Thatcher will also have to pay a $1,000 fine in addition to over $8,000 in restitution.
The charges stem from an incident in August of last year when Thatcher allegedly hit the victim with his car as part of an ongoing dispute between the two. Upon being knocked down to the road, the victim jumped up and began running away. Thatcher reportedly ran over the victim a second time, dragging him a short distance, before fleeing the scene. Thatcher was also originally charged with attempted murder, a first-degree felony.
The victim was transported to Castleview Hospital by the Carbon County ambulance for treatment of serious but non-life threatening injuries.