A Jones County man was sentenced to 30 days in jail in addition to 12 months on probation after entering a guilty plea to homicide by vehicle.
Jeremy Neil Huckeba was in Jones County Superior Court Oct. 8 to enter his plea. He was represented by defense attorney Allison Cartwright, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore. Superior Court Judge Terry Massey accepted the negotiated plea and pronounced sentence.
The charge Huckeba pleaded guilty to was homicide by vehicle in the second degree. He received credit for time already served. The maximum sentence for the charge, which is treated as a misdemeanor, is a year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine. The charge is the result of a fatal traffic accident that occurred Feb. 20 that took the life of Brandi Mare Long, 46, of Jones County. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Deputy Coroner Wayne Grier gave the case of death as multiple blunt force trauma. The accident was reported to have occurred at 7:21 p.m.
The report of the accident by Jones County Sheriff Office Deputy Dan Riberio stated Long was driving a 2025 Hyundai Elantra north and had a green light when the accident happened. Huckeba, 56, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. Ribeiro’s report stated that Huckeba made a left-hand turn from Gray Highway onto Joycliff Road while the turning light was flashing amber.
The report stated the truck failed to yield to the oncoming car.
The booking report from the Jones County Sheriff’s office stated Huckeba turned himself in Feb. 26 and he was charged with homicide by vehicle first degree, habitual violator.
Ribeiro said in his report that he was dispatched to the motor vehicle crash with a fatality Feb. 20 and responded in emergency mode. When he arrived, the deputy blocked the northbound lane.
Riberio said he saw a black sedan with a large group of people around it. A man who was lying on the ground near the sedan turned out to be a passenger in the truck driven by Huckeba. The man told the officer he was OK.
