By Daralyn Schoenewald
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Abilene Reporter News

With a loud knock on a Taylor County Courthouse door Thursday, an Abilene man's fate was sealed. The verdict was in.

With no less ceremony than that simple knock, a jury sentenced Jessie Earl "Buddy" Griffith, 60, to 20 years in prison for running over Brenda Sue Eldridge, 46, last December. The jury returned the sentencing verdict exactly three hours after beginning deliberations.

Griffith, convicted Wednesday of manslaughter, also was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. The prison time and fine was the maximum sentence he could have received for the second-degree felony. Griffith will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least half of the sentence.

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