Man pleads guilty in fatal crash; jail time to be capped at 180 days

By KAALTV

Deadly Austin Hit-and-Run Plea

(ABC 6 News) – An Austin man pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide for the second time in a single case Monday morning, May 20.

Darin Douglas Finley, 37, had previously pleaded guilty in the death of 41-year-old Melissa Rack.

He withdrew his guilty plea after Judge Jeffery Kritzer refused to sentence Finley to probation, citing his failure to report the crash or call for aid on Dec. 30, 2022.

On May 20, Finley pleaded guilty to one count of criminal vehicular homicide–driver who causes collision leaves scene.

According to his plea agreement, the prosecution agreed to recommend a dispositional departure, or lighter-than-usual sentence, including probation.

Jail time, according to Finley’s plea agreement, will be capped at 180 days with credit for time served, and may be staggered.

Finley will also be fined “at court’s discretion,” according to the documents.

Finley’s sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 12.

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(ABC 6 News) – A new plea hearing has been scheduled in place of Darin Douglas Finley’s vehicular homicide trial May 20, according to Minnesota court records.

Darin Douglas Finley, 37, had previously pleaded guilty in the death of 41-year-old Melissa Rack.

He withdrew his guilty plea after Judge Jeffery Kritzer refused to sentence Finley to probation, citing his failure to report the crash or call for aid on Dec. 30, 2022.

Finley appeared for a pretrial hearing Friday, May 10, after which Minnesota court records indicated he would appear for a plea hearing, instead of a trial May 20.

A new plea agreement had not been publicly filed Friday afternoon.