Drunk driver pleads guilty to felony

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - A man convicted of killing his friend in a drunk driving crash and then skipping his sentencing hearing pleaded guilty Monday to failure to appear.

On March 1, a jury found Cameron Paul Crockett, 23, guilty of involuntary manslaughter and recommended a prison sentence of five years.

The sentencing phase of the trial was set to begin March 5, and Crockett never showed up, resulting in an indictment for failure to appear.

Crockett wasn't found until June 8 when he was flagged at the border and arrested in Belize, according to U.S. Marshals. Grazia Moyers with the Virginia Beach Police Department said Crockett was deported from Belize and flown to Texas, where he was retrieved by Virginia Beach Police about two weeks later.

Monday, Crockett pled guilty to the failure to appear charge. Sentencing for that charge as well as the manslaughter charge has been continued until Dec. 17.

In December 2008, Crockett was driving along Wolfsnare Road when he hit a tree, killing his friend, John "Jack" Korte. Both alcohol and speed were factors in the crash.