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An Altoona man with a criminal history dating back to the 1970s on Wednesday received yet another state prison sentence, this time for leaving the scene of an accident in which the victim suffered life-threatening injuries.
When it came time for the defense to address Blair County Judge Jackie Bernard, the defendant, James Edward Beasom, 69, indicated he had something he wanted to say.
Beasom turned toward his victim, and, choking up, said, "I'm so sorry I did this. I apologize deeply."
He then repeated, "I am sorry, I really am."
Beasom even offered to cooperate if the victim ends up filing a civil lawsuit in the case.
The unusual apology was acknowledged by Bernard, who earlier in the hearing accepted a plea agreement presented to the court by Assistant District Attorney Derek Elensky and Assistant Public Defender John Siford.
Approving the agreement, Bernard imposed a 21- to 48-month prison sentence on Beasom that will run consecutively to the sentence he is serving on a state parole violation detainer.
The agreement called for Beasom to plead guilty to aggravated assault by vehicle and accidents involving death or personal injury.
Several other charges were dismissed, including accidents Involving damage to an attended vehicle, failure to notify police of an accident, failure to stop and render aid and failure to stop at a stop sign.
Beasom told to the judge how the accident occurred.
He said he was driving on East Second Avenue on April 8, 2021.
There was a large truck in front of him. He said he couldn't see, so he kept edging out of his lane to see if he could get around the truck.
Finally, he said, "I went for it," pulling his Chevrolet Malibu around the truck and striking a motorcyclist.
"I panicked. I don't know why I panicked," Beasom said, as he explained what happened after the accident.
Bernard suggested maybe it was because of the fact he was on parole at the time.
Beasom said he drove 2 miles before he stopped.
The judge told to Beasom, "You didn't do what you were legally required to do (to stop). You left (the victim) with a lot of injuries."
Those injuries included broken ribs and a punctured lung, and other injuries to his back and legs.
After the hearing, Elensky said the incident was "a crime where it didn't have to happen the way it did. ... The victim could have died."
The 21- to 48-month sentence was appropriate, Elensky said.
It was within the standard guideline range of the state sentencing code.
Elensky also complimented Altoona police for the investigation that led to Beasom.
Police initially were searching for a red sedan, which later turned out to be a Chevrolet Malibu.
A red car was discovered several days later behind a house on the 1600 block of 17th Avenue.
Beasom had offered to pay the homeowner $45 to park his vehicle at the home.
Investigators impounded the vehicle and later concluded that broken pieces of the vehicle from the scene fit the damages to Beasom's car.
After being sentenced, Beasom told the judge that he did not intend to appeal his case.
The court clarified that Beasom was not eligible for a Department of Corrections program that reduces his minimum sentence by about 25%.
Beasom also will have eight years to pay off the fines and costs levied in his case.
He asked the judge to issue an order to bar the department from taking money from his prison fund to pay the fines and costs, but Bernard stated she was not permitted to issue such an order.
Elensky noted during his presentation that Beasom has quite a criminal history.
State court records indicate Beasom has spent many of his adult years behind bars -- beginning in the 1970s -- for crimes like burglary and theft, but more recently for criminal solicitation to commit murder and arson.
The victim in the case did not wish to comment when asked by Bernard if he had anything he wanted to say.
Beasom will be incarcerated in the State Correctional Institution at Smithfield, Huntingdon County.