A St. George man has been sentenced to seven months with the Department of Corrections, but was granted probation in connection with a hit and run fatality case from August of last year. 66-year-old Russell Hodges was sentenced Thursday in Pottawatomie County district court, with presumptive probation for a period of 12 months. The court ordered Hodges to serve 60 days in the Pottawatomie County jail as a condition of the probation. He was further ordered to pay costs associated with the case as well as restitution to the victim’s family for funeral expenses. Hodges’ charge in the case was failing to report an accident involving a death, which is a level nine felony. The plea was connected with the August third, 2008 hit and run accident on Military trail road that led to the death of 55-year-old Darla Dugan, also of St. George.

In other Pottawatomie County District Court news, another St. George man has been set for an April jury trial on charges of child abuse, aggravated battery, and aggravated endangering a child. 22-year-old Joseph Gardner remains confined on Pottawatomie County’s bond of $500,000 and a hold from Geary County for probation violation. Gardner also faces a felony charge of possession of marijuana. He was arrested August 20th at his home at 10936 Swede Circle. The Pottawatomie County sheriff’s office at the time indicated they were called to a local hospital earlier that day for reported injuries to a two-year-old that did not appear to be accidental.