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Emotional Sentencing Hearing For Man Behind Wheel In Fatal 2013 Montco Crash

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) - A 24-year-old Lower Gwynedd man has been sentenced to serve time in state prison for his role in a crash that killed a 21-year-old back in 2013.

Sean Sperl was convicted of Homicide By Vehicle and of leaving the scene of the April 2013 crash on Ridge Road in Salford Township that killed Ryan Petrille.

Sperl's attorney asked for a sentence that would keep Sperl out of state prison: either a county jail sentence or even boot camp.

But Montgomery County judge Gary Silow sentenced the 24-year-old to three to six years in state prison, telling Sperl, despite a tearful allocution, he did not believe he was remorseful, and that he believed Sperl was a risk to commit another crime.

Ryan Petrille's father, Joe Petrille, says what they believe is a lack of remorse is what hurts the family the most:

"And maybe when he's incarcerated he'll have the chance to think about the things he was involved with and the things he did."

Sperl's attorney says they will appeal, and he calls it a very heavy, excessive sentence.

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