A Sooke man charged in the death of a Langford teen pleaded guilty in Victoria Supreme Court Monday.
But it wasn’t for the charge of criminal negligence causing death, which he was scheduled to be on trial for. Instead, 52-year-old Arnett Roderick Marchbank, admitted to a lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death.
“Based on the available evidence for the case, the crown agreed this was an appropriate charge,” said Neil Mackenzie spokesperson for Crown counsel.
The maximum sentence for dangerous driving is 14 years in prison, while the charge of criminal negligence causing death could have landed him in prison for life.
It’s been nearly three years since Marchbank crashed his station wagon head-on into 19-year-old Jamie Jackson’s vehicle, instantly killing the Belmont graduate on Jan. 3, 2009.
Marchbank was driving into oncoming traffic as he tried to pass vehicles in his lane, in the 4400 block of Happy Valley Road in Metchosin.
Mackenzie said since the incident the accused has remained in the community with no Crown-imposed bail conditions, besides the requirement he attend his court dates.
A sentencing hearing for the case is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2012 in Victoria.
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