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A Price man who pleaded guilty to intentionally running over another man with an SUV last year, and then speeding away from the scene, has been sentenced to probation.
Matthew Alan Thatcher, 34, was initially charged in 7th District Court with second-degree felony attempted murder and third-degree felony and failure to stop at the scene of a serious injury accident.
Thatcher pleaded guilty in June to a lesser count of third-degree felony aggravated assault, as well as the failure to stop charge.
On Monday, Judge George Harmond suspended a prison term of up to five years and placed Thatcher — who spent 97 days in jail in connection with the case — on probation for 36 months.
As part of his probation, Thatcher — who was on drugs at the time of the crime — must pay a $1,000 fine, $8,059.57 in restitution, complete a substance abuse program and stay away from prescription drugs containing opiates, ephedrine, epinephrine and amphetamines.
On Aug. 17, 2014, Price police got a 911 call reporting that a 32-year-old man had been injured while riding a bicycle near 670 E. 400 South in Price.
Price police Capt. William D. Barnes said at the time that Thatcher and the victim had an ongoing, unspecified adversarial relationship, and when Thatcher saw the victim riding his bike he decided to run him down. Thatcher ran over the victim again when he got up from his toppled bike and tried to run, Barnes said.
Carbon County Attorney Gene Strate said Tuesday that Thatcher was upset with the victim because he had stolen a key to a motorcycle, with the intent of stealing the motorcycle. Strate added that there is a theft case pending in court against the victim for stealing the key.
Strate said the victim did not want Thatcher doing additional jail time. Rather, the victim wanted Thatcher out of jail and working, so he can pay restitution, Strate said.