dme court

A Butler man will learn his fate later this month after entering a guilty plea following a fatal pedestrian crash.

Robert D. Pflugh, 59, pleaded guilty during a Feb. 10 conference in Butler County Common Pleas Court to a felony charge of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. He is expected to face at least 5 years in prison.

At about at 11:30 a.m. on July 30, Pflugh was driving a 2006 Saturn Ion east on Harmony Road when he crossed into the westbound lane and struck Donald B. Phipps, 65, who was standing in his driveway, according to state police. Phipps died at the scene.

Pflugh remained at the scene and was taken into custody by police. A blood test revealed fentanyl in his system, police said.

According to the plea agreement signed by Judge Maura Palumbi, Pflugh will be sentenced to serve 5 to 10 years in prison and complete 100 hours of community service for the homicide by vehicle charge and concurrently serve 3 to 6 months in prison, pay a $1,000 fine and complete 40 hours of community service for the DUI charge.

He is currently being held in the county jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 26.