Sentencing set in manslaughter case

SANDPOINT — A Clark Fork man convicted of accidentally killing a motorcyclist last year faces up to a year in jail when he is sentenced in April.

Oly Lee Morris could also be ordered to pay support to Daniel Patrick Krmpotich's underage children and lose his driving privileges.

Morris, 20, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11.

A Bonner County jury convicted Morris of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter on Feb. 15. Morris was charged following the Sept. 27, 2006 crash on Highway 200 west of Clark Fork.

Idaho State Police said Morris was westbound in a Mitsubishi and began making a left turn into the path of Krmpotich, who was headed east on a motorcycle. Morris reportedly stopped, but his car ended up partially blocking the eastbound lane.

Krmpotich laid the bike on its side and he ended colliding with the car Morris was driving. Krmpotich, a 52-year-old from Bonners Ferry, died of severe chest injuries and blunt force trauma.

Deputy Prosecutor Roger Hanlon alleged Morris either turned so close to Krmpotich that he created an immediate hazard or he was driving inattentively. Defense attorney Daniel Featherston argued Morris did everything in his power to avoid the crash and suggested Krmpotich was actually at fault.

A jury of five women and one man found Morris guilty after about an hour of deliberation.