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Hunter Black Sentenced To Prison After Entering Plea In Crash That Killed Two Siblings on Kingsfield Road
February 23, 2021
The man accused of killing two siblings in a 2019 DUI crash in Cantonment entered a no contest plea Tuesday and been sentenced to prison.
Hunter Black was sentenced to 20.225 years in state prison to be followed by 10 years probation in a plea agreement for two counts of DUI manslaughter and one count of possession of less than 20 grams of cannabis. He must serve at least eight years as a minimum mandatory sentence under Florida law. His driver’s licence was also permanently revoked.
Antoinette Marie McCoy, 22, and her brother, 15-year old Tate High School student Sean Banks, died at local hospitals shortly after the early morning crash on January 19, 2019, on Kingsfield Road.
RELATED STORY: Tate Aggie Family Honors Lives Of Student Athlete And His Sister
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement report showed there was no alcohol found in Black’s system, but it was positive for Xanax and chemicals that can be linked to THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
A Florida Highway Patrol report details the accounts of two crash witnesses. One reported a driver he was able to identify as Black was driving all over the roadway and was having trouble maintaining his lane in a curve. After the crash, he said he helped Black out of his vehicle. The second witness told the FHP he witnessed Black’s vehicle cross the center line as the collision occurred.
A Florida Highway Patrol sergeant that responded to Sacred Heart reported that Black was showing signs of impairment with slurred speech and trouble staying awake, according to an arrest report. A FHP trooper said Black had slurred speech, was unable to provide proper information and had “a white crusty substance on his lips.” Court records indicate a “green leafy substance” was found in the vehicle driven by Black.
“While attempting to talk to Black he seemed as if he was having issues understanding what was being said to him. When he attempted to speak he had very slurred speech to where it was sometimes difficult to understand him,” a Florida Highway Patrol trooper wrote in an arrest report. “Black was also unable to sign his paperwork to the point where a nurse advised him to just sign an X on his paperwork.”
Black was arrested after marking the discharge paperwork.
In the days following the wreck, a judge signed a search warrant for Black’s Apple iPhone and “to use reasonable force if necessary” to require Black to unlock the phone with his thumb print to obtain information regarding the offense and Black’s whereabouts leading up to the traffic crash. A search warrant was also issued for information regarding Black’s phone use and location from his cellular provider.
After executing a search warrant for the vehicle Black was driving, troopers reported they took two unspecified paper receipts, data from the event data recorder, multiple swabs from the interior of the vehicle, two hairs and four airbags.
The FHP said Black had been involved in another crash before the fatal wreck when he ran off East Kingsfield Road and struck a tree near Berrydale Road. He then made a U-turn and traveled back west on Kingsfield Road a short distance before the fatal crash occurred.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Comments
32 Responses to “Hunter Black Sentenced To Prison After Entering Plea In Crash That Killed Two Siblings on Kingsfield Road”
a plea bargain is the way attorneys from both sides count it as a win….yes it is disgraceful…but no one likes losing… there is a big difference between losing your child’s life in death or losing it in a prison sentence. One the family will NEVER see again.. the other family can visit their loved one. .while their loved one finds Jesus…gets an education.. good meals.. all the things one gets day to day outside of prison.. except freedom…excuse me ..but if I had a choice I would choose to see my loved one alive..to visit with them…hear their voice…to watch them mature.. grow up..etc..etc…one family will never have those things.. while the other family will.. Hunter did not have an accident.. he made plenty of wrong choices but he remains alive.. punishment? this sentence is a joke…
So, so sad for both families. Who came up with the “plea agreement?” Who agreed to it?
@ Pdub
You are correct
Many people in society and on this forum have been lucky in their ways.
Hunter and the young children were not so.
Prayers to all
This boy made a mistake, maybe a few different choices than each of us. Yes, it is illegal to drink and drive. Its also illegal to speed, text and drive, etc. Instead of casting judgement look at this situation – 2 innocent people gone from this life and another’s life ruined in prison and the system. Yes, consequences are necessary for poor choices, but instead of spending your time writing comments regarding how appropriate his sentencing is or isn’t; maybe each of you should use this terrible crash and circumstances to ensure you and your loved ones don’t end up in a situation.
Offer to be that phone call for someone to call at 2 am so they dont drink and drive, choose not to look at your phone to see if texting while you are driving, set your cruise control to the speed limits and be 5 minutes late, if you see a family member or friend struggling with drugs or alcohol offer a non judgmental hand to help, hug your loveds one especially close today and cheerish them.
@Squeeky
I was not aware that Kane Brown sung gospel music. Nor was I aware the crashing for the third time in one night, still qualified as a mistake or an accident. Let’s not forget THE VERY SAME CURVE he killed the siblings in is where he crashed the second time that night, twenty minutes prior to the fatal crash. The first being someone’s mailbox. Did Hunter mistakenly fail to report that crash that night as well or was that intentional? Black made SEVERAL poor choices that night, not just one or two.
You are correct about Gods grace. However the Bible also speaks about reaping the whirl wind. After all, did Black mistakingly ingest enough Xanax to Put down a horse as well? This is well beyond the the threshold of a mistake. Where do you suppose Hunter got all that Xanax anyway?
There are people that know the REAL you. Remember that before you get on here preaching. It’s nothing more than self serving lip service.
A mistake is misspelling a word that can erased and corrected. Getting into a vehicle and driving while impaired is a CHOICE. Please don’t confuse the two.
Our judicial system let our community down, look at the FHP and SA reports this guy chose to take the drugs and smoke pot that is not an accident. He has taken two Wonderful Young People from our community and should serve a lot more time then he received
At least he won’t be able to drive again.
Hunter was not a bad person he just made a bad decision that he has to understand and deal with just like the victims and everyone involved. I have been there where a 5minute bad decision can take years from you and create a problem but we should not be trying to bring anybody down we should try to build up the community not make it worse or complain. There was no intent to kill anybody that night and everyone who has common sense would know that. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims family and blacks family.
Just adking Where was all the outrage 1988 when my daughter and her grandmother was killed in front of the piggly wiggle this guy was racing when he hit them he got 7 months in the county jail then 5 years house arrest which he did 6 months of 5 more years probation which he did six months of now that was a disgrace ow this man gets 20 years and y’all all acting like it’s nothing I personally know this man and he is a good boy yes he made a mistake but I’m sure most everyone on this page has made now we should all be holding both of these families up in prayer
@Mr.MeToo @Stumpknocker At least I am putting out my name and not hiding behind a nickname. The accident that he had in his truck WAS NOT two weeks prier to the accident. I was home that night and Hunter was not impaired enough to get behind the wheel. How are law enforcement going to test the cannabis in your system to see if you are impaired or not. The state went to the Banks family with 15 years in prison and 15 years probation. They were ok with that. If you are mad at the sentencing then contact your state legislature and get them to change it!!! Like I said before, Hunter didn’t set out that night to kill someone!!! It was an accident!!! Also, for me to pick and chose the Bible passages to help what I’m saying, it is in the Bible and then it is truth!! No if ands or buts about it!!!! I will say this, since all y’all believe that he should kill himself and he should die in prison and we are the worst “parents” in the world, I will see you all in HELL!!!
Wow, that sentence is a joke! The kids he killed will only live on with Jesus and memories of those who loved them. Meanwhile, this sorry joker that got behind the wheel under the influence and killed them gets on average 10 years per life he took and may not serve them all and then 10 yrs probation when he gets out. Sorry Chris (stepdad), you don’t accidentally get behind the wheel blitzed and destroy someone else’s family. He made a very selfish, poor decision!
When I drive by the spot they were killed (often) I always remember them and pray for the Banks family; So sorry for all you have endured.
@Chris Johnson, this was no accident at all, how about explaining Blacks crash which occurred about two weeks prior on west kings field rd when he was in a truck and his mother showed up on the scene, no he chose to drive this way.
Every time you decide to drive you run some risk of causing an accident. It’s true that driving recklessly and intoxicated increases that risk but the only way to completely eliminate the risk is to not drive at all. We all put the community at risk when we drive so all of us who drive are also with sin. This man made a grave mistake and that shouldn’t be ignored but this is a crime without intent or malice. Reckless and negligent behavior deserves to be punished but twenty years for an accident is savagely aggressive. No punishment can change the past.
JTV, everything the Judge and the State prosecuting attorney did followed the laws set forth by the State Legislators. If you don’t like it, call your state legislator. And by the way, prepare to pay increased taxes to keep these criminals incarcerated for years. We will need more prisons and prison personnel. At this time, the liberals are yelling for less prisons. Please try to change the current trend. I am all for you. Go git’em.
The sentence is a joke. Two precious people killed. Black gets basically a “don’t do it again.”
Mr. Johnson please stop. There’s no way the family was happy with fifteen years. Maybe accepting or respectful of the law and wanted closure. Happy is the wrong word.
Please stop quoting parts of the Bible to fit what we want. He wasn’t driving from Bible study and high on praising the Lord.
@Adam Evens just what would my legislators do here? Laws are in place, the lazy DA and judge opted to take a plea bargain to get it off the docket. This should have gone to trial and all charges should have been put on the table for a jury to render a verdict. 20 years is a military stint in exchange for a pension. 20 years is not a sentence for getting high and killing two very young people.
All this complaining over ten years? It isnt a ten year sentence. He was sentenced to TWENTY (20) YEARS and three months in prison PLUS another 10 years of probation.
The first eight years are minimum mandatory indicating he isnt entitled to earn “good time” and must serve this eight years day for day. Then he is eligible to earn gain time on the remaining 12 years but he must still complete at least 85% of his prison sentence prior to release.
Oh, and this wasnt an ACCIDENT. You dont drive under the influence by accident. Its This was a CRASH.A crash that occurred as a result of making the decision to drive under the influence.
THAT’S IT?!?!?! That’s all the time he got?!?!? If those were my two young babies that died in that accident from this idiot, I would be FURIOUS at only 20 years with an even more insulting mandatory 8 years!!! This dude should be locked up for 25 years per child who lost their lives!! This family will NEVER be the same ever again… they will never know another night’s peaceful sleep, they’ll never lose that ache in their hearts for their loss… This sentence to me is absolutely insulting and cruel!!!
NOT enough time for taking two young ones lives!!
As the step father of the accused, I understand everyone is mad and can also hide behind a computer but remember what the Lord said “ He without sin, cast the first stone!” It has been hell for both families every since that night!! It was an accident!! No one ever wins in these type of cases!! If y’all really want to know the truth, the Banks was going to be happy with 15 years and 15 years probation!!! He has to live this hell for the rest of his life!!! We have been in prayer for the Banks family ever since the accident happened!! Just please remember if the shoe was on the other foot and your child was involved in a horrific accident, how would you feel!!! I just beg for you to remember that he is someone’s child too!!! Please stay away from the comments that he should die in jail! He should kill him self!! As Christians we believe that when we ask God for his forgiveness that we will be cleansed of our sin and he forgets it!! I know that is hard for people to do that but if you truly are a Christian then you would!! Just remember when Jesus was on the cross and the thief beside him said “ Lord remember me when you get to heaven and what did Jesus say??? “My son you will be with me in paradise!!!
JTV, what you said is disgusting. Contact your legislators with your complaints.
Some of you might need to sharpen your reading skills. He was sentenced to 20.225 years. That is the end of the Judge’s and the DA’s authority as to his actual length in prison. The State will be the governing authority as to how much of the sentence he will actually serve, after the eight year minimum. The Judge did not make the laws. Legislators did
Just because it’s an 8 year minimum mandatory doesn’t mean that’s all he will serve. He is required to serve at least 85% of his sentence. The mandatory is just a Florida Law that outlines that the courts must sentence him to at least 8 years as a minimum.
I wish this could have been the DA and judges kids, there’s no way he gets this weak sentence.
@Mom I totally agree with you, he has a history plus he has taken two young lives and the punishment is ten years for each with a minimum of eight. Whoever settled for this should be ashamed!!!!
!0 years aint enough. I get it. But this guy has a lifetime of this to live with no only that, his life is going to be so hard upon reentry. So sad.
@cheryl. I have to respectfully disagree. 10 years is not enough of a punishment. I hope the family of the deceased is at peace with this because I certainly wouldn’t be. Mr. Black family will be allowed to see their child again so I feel nothing for them at all.
8 years for killing 2 kids…sad
Should have been life…
Chris I’m sorry but this is what is right and what is needed. I’m sorry for your family but consider what that other family is going through because he didn’t care, enough….