Man sentenced for role in hit and run

POPLAR BLUFF, MO. -- A Neelyville, Mo., man was sentenced to four years in prison Tuesday afternoon in connection with a hit-and-run accident that left a local teenager dead.

Cletis W. Powell Jr., 36, of the 2700 block of County Road 246 appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett for sentencing after having pleaded guilty as charged in February to tampering with physical evidence.

With his plea, Powell admitted to hiding his truck and disassembling the damaged parts after an Aug. 14 crash on Highway 142 at Half Moon Lane that left Alexander C. Metzing, 18, dead.

Powell, who originally was charged with tampering with physical evidence and leaving the scene of a motor-vehicle accident, was allowed to plead to one of the charges against him as part of negotiations with the state.

After accepting Powell's plea, Pritchett ordered a sentencing assessment report be completed by Probation and Parole and set a sentencing date; however, sentencing was continued a "couple of times" to give interested parties, such as Metzing's family, an opportunity to be notified.

Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour told Pritchett his office had been in contact with Metzing's family. "They did not want to be here today," but they wanted to know what sentence Powell received, he said.

Before sentencing Powell, Pritchett asked him if he had any corrections to make to the sentencing assessment report or if there was anything he disputed about it.

Public defender Ted Liszewski said there was "one significant matter" his client had an issue with, which involved Powell's version of the events.

Liszewski said the probation officer completing the report basically made a judgment by saying his client "accepts no responsibility for his actions or feels remorse."

"I vaguely remember it. … I don't know exactly what happened that night," Powell said. "It bothers me that I don't."

Pritchett also went over Powell's prior and current alcohol and drug use.

"When you speak of having no recollection, not a good memory of the incident, was alcohol involved … was that part of it," Pritchett asked.

Powell answered affirmatively.

Powell indicated he drank heavily in his younger years, as well as "quite a bit" after his second divorce. Any drug use, he said, was "quite some time ago."

When asked whether he had any treatment Powell said, he is being treated for a post-traumatic stress disorder through the VA.

Liszewski said his client admitted to dismantling his truck at the time of his plea. During the investigation, he said, Powell initially denied involvement, but "quickly came clean and fessed up."

"I know I've hurt a lot of people … a young man lost his life; it bothers me," Powell said. "I spent 13 months in Iraq. … I still have nightmares today about the things that happened over there."

Pritchett sentenced Powell to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, but retained jurisdiction over Powell's case pending a ruling on probation after Powell completes a 120-day intensive treatment program.

If, after 120 days, Powell is placed on probation, Pritchett ordered him to enter and successfully complete the Butler County Veterans Court program.

After being sentenced, Powell said goodbye to his family members in attendance and was taken into custody.

Powell said he takes medication to "keep me from dreaming, but I still dream. I wish there was something I could do for the family to console them, but there's nothing I could do."

Powell, who has been living with his mother at Coon Island, Mo., said he has been getting by "day by day," doing odd jobs, including helping a friend restore a vehicle.

Pritchett said it was his understanding that the Veterans Court program had been discussed.

Liszewski confirmed it had and was a suitable option, but his client had not been screened for it.

"This a tragedy on multiple levels; it's a tragedy that started as an accident and became a criminal offense," Liszewski said. "Sometimes people make dumb mistakes; that's what happened here.

"He's trying to do the right thing."

Powell, Liszewski said, has served his country, and with "respect to his memory, we're talking about a traumatic event in anybody's life. The fact he does not remember … ."

Liszewski said his client "understands and will accept whatever punishment" the court hands down.

Based on negotiations with the defense, Barbour said, he agreed to "stand silent and leave sentencing to the court."

According to earlier reports, Metzing was slowing to make a right-hand turn when the motorized scooter he was riding was struck from behind by a dark blue pickup.

The driver of the pickup, later found to be Powell, then fled the scene.

While processing the scene, Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Joe Weadon reportedly found several pieces of dark blue metallic paint, as well as several pieces of evidence, including a black, plastic piece that appeared to be from the vehicle that left the scene.

One of the pieces, according to Weadon's probable cause statement, had a globe molded into it.

As officers continued to look for the truck that had fled the scene, Weadon said, information was obtained indicating a man on County Road 246 had a similar truck.

Cpl. Mike Slaughter, Weadon said, contacted Powell, who reported having a blue truck and showed it to the trooper.

The truck, a 1999 Chevrolet S-10, was located behind the house trailer and not visible from the road, Weadon said.

"Slaughter observed the hood, grill and bumper had been removed from the truck," Weadon said. "The hood and grill were near the truck, and the bumper was inside the trailer house."

The truck was impounded and inspected by Weadon.

During his initial examination, Weadon said, the paint appeared to be "the same dark blue, metallic, and the truck had front-end damage.

"The hood, grill and bumper were inside the bed of the Chevrolet."

While looking at the grill, Weadon said, he saw a black piece of plastic was broken out of it, and where the piece was missing, there was a globe molded into the plastic.

Half, Weadon said, was missing and appeared to be consistent with the piece found at the crash scene.

Powell, Weadon said, initially denied any involvement in the crash and any knowledge of how the damage to his truck occurred; however, he later admitted to being the driver.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, MO

Neelyville, MO