Jason Patrick Williams apologized Thursday to the family of a man whom he was charged with killing in a May 2018 drunk driving accident before he was sentenced to three to six years in state prison for causing the death.

Williams, 47, was sentenced in Butler County Common Pleas Court in the death of Brandon Lucas of Prospect, who was 33 when he died May 12, 2018 as a passenger in a car Williams drove head-on into a tree on Route 528 near English Oak Drive in Franklin Township at 2:40 a.m.In addition to homicide by vehicle, Williams pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol (second offense) and driving with a suspended license. State police filed the charges.After listening to Lucas' parents describe the pain they continue to suffer over the loss of their son and the betrayal they feel from Williams' actions, Judge Timothy McCune told Williams he has led a life of crime and drug and alcohol use. He said Williams has a criminal record dating to the early 1990s.“Drugs and alcohol have been a big part of your life,” McCune said. “You never learned to live on the straight and narrow.”Lucas' parents, Bonnie Lucas Oliver and Daniel Oliver, said Williams had been a friend of the family, and Williams was staying with Lucas in his apartment at the time of the crash. Daniel Oliver said it was his car that Williams was driving.Bonnie Oliver stood weeping next to a victim's advocate who read the statement she wrote.She said she believes Lucas told Williams to move out and Williams was driving erratically because they were arguing or he was trying to scare Lucas. She said she believes Williams had malicious intent.“He chose to play God with my son that night,” the advocate said, reading the statement.Williams never apologized to the family, the advocate read.“My son did nothing but try to help this person and it cost him his life. He never should have got in that car,” the advocate read.The crash occurred during the weekend of Mother's Day. Lucas' younger brother and sister are also devastated by his death, the advocate read.“It doesn't just change you, it demolished you,” the advocate read.Daniel Oliver said he invited Williams to stay with the family because he had nowhere else to go.“He was my best friend,” he said of his son.Oliver also said Williams hasn't apologized.Public defender Joseph Smith, who represents Williams, said he was advised not to have contact with anyone involved in the case.Williams said he apologized to one family member and she accepted his apology.“I'm sorry it happened,” Williams said. “I can't take it back. I live with it every single minute.”He apologized to Oliver and said he had helped him, and looked up to him.“I hope you accept my apology,” Williams said.He was free on bond, but was placed in handcuffs and shackles and led away by deputy sheriffs after his sentencing hearing.Williams was initially charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license, driving with a suspended license and several other summary traffic violations. The other charged were dismissed.In addition to the prison term, Williams was sentenced to pay $1,250 in fines and serve a year on probation after he is released. He was also sentenced to serve 90 days to six months in prison for the DUI offense and 90 days in prison for driving with a suspended license.

Jason Williams