MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - He was charged with killing a man while behind the wheel. Samer Sakaan confessed to the crime in a Memphis courtroom Friday.
He pleaded guilty to reckless vehicular homicide and could spend three years behind bars.
Sakaan was originally facing a voluntary manslaughter charge for the May 2011 incident. That carries a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison.
His lawyer, Randy Songstad, says prosecutors could not prove his client was drunk or impaired when he hit 36-year-old William Marshall, father of two, in front of Marshall's Cordova home while he was at his mailbox.
Songstad wants the judge to give Sakaan three years probation instead of jail time.
“Accidents happen, that’s what this was, it was an accident. You shouldn't have two victims. There's one and that's sad enough, putting this man in jail at age 19 would be a second victim,” he said.
As part of the agreement, Sakaan also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor trespassing charge carrying a penalty of six months in jail.
He would serve that sentence as well the sentence for reckless vehicular homicide at the same time.
Sakaan will be sentenced September 21st.
