A Texarkana man who ran over and killed his wife in 2016 heard victim impact testimony Tuesday from his 11-year-old daughter after pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide and other crimes.
Lucas Connor McCarley, 36, received 30 years total as part of a plea bargain. McCarley has been in jail since March 3, 2016, the night Casey McCarley found him riding around with another woman on a dark county road and got out of her car to confront him. Casey McCarley, 34, was struck when Lucas McCarley ran over her trying to get away.
When Miller County sheriff's deputies arrived, they found Casey McCarley dead in the middle of County Road 22, a blue tarp covering her body. In a cupholder in the front of Lucas McCarley's truck, deputies noticed a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine. Next to the pipe was a silver metal wallet containing suspected meth and prescription pills.
"I wanted to come for me, (my little sister) and mama. She was the most important person in our lives, and you took her away. She won't be there for our birthdays, our graduations and our weddings, and she won't get to see her grandchildren," the young girl said as she faced her father. "I know someday I'm going to have to forgive you, but I'm never going to forget what you did."
Casey McCarley's mother, Francis Cornett, who is raising her two granddaughters, spoke of her loss.
"She was born on my 27th birthday," Cornett said. "I didn't know then that 34 years later, she'd be killed by her husband. I had three children: two sons and a daughter. You took my only daughter. Now I'm raising your daughters."
Cornett referred to McCarley's 30-year plea agreement as a "favor" he's receiving with the approval of his victim's family. But Lucas McCarley was anything but grateful during his plea hearing Tuesday afternoon before Circuit Judge Brent Haltom. McCarley argued with Haltom about the habitual offender enhancement on the negligent homicide charge and told the court he doesn't understand why he should receive a 30-year term.
"You're facing 66. Do you want 66?" Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell asked.
Lucas McCarley could have been sentenced to as many as 66 years if he received maximum terms for criminally negligent homicide, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and sentences for two existing felony probations he failed to successfully complete.
"No. But I don't want 30. I don't want to do any," Lucas McCarley said.
The defendant's words led members of his wife's family to gasp. Haltom advised McCarley of his right to a jury trial.
"In this case, your attorney has worked diligently with Ms. Mitchell, and Ms. Mitchell has worked diligently with the victim's family to come up with an acceptable plea bargain, but we can go to trial," Haltom said.
McCarley's defense attorney, Matt Stephens of Texarkana, spoke to McCarley, and McCarley agreed to go forward with sentencing. McCarley received 25 years for criminally negligent homicide, 12 years for possession of methamphetamine under 2 grams and 12 years for possession of drug paraphernalia. Those three terms will run concurrently.
McCarley was serving two five-year terms of probation for breaking and entering and theft of property when he killed Casey McCarley. He received two five-year terms for those offenses, which will run concurrently to each other and consecutively to the newer sentences.
After Haltom listed the court costs Lucas McCarley owes in association with his crimes, McCarley continued to question the consequences of his misconduct.
"Does that mean when I get out, I still have to pay?" McCarley asked.
McCarley will remain in the Miller County jail until he is taken to the Arkansas Department of Correction.
"By the way he lived, it is clear Lucas McCarley selfishly chose drugs over his wife and children," Mitchell said. "While his wife worked three jobs to support the family, he neglected his children, often putting them in harm's way in pursuit of drugs. His wife, Casey, lost her life at his hands while he was under the influence of methamphetamine and in possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia. His actions clearly demonstrate a selfish and self-centered desire for drugs over a family that loved him."