A Bunker man was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to his role in the beating death of a Brick’s Off-Road Park patron in 2018.
Rickey B. Holt, 44, of Bunker pleaded guilty Wednesday to the Class C felony of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to eight years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, according to Missouri Casenet.
Holt pleaded guilty to his role in the death of 41-year-old Joe Girard of Oak Ridge, Missouri, who died June 9, 2018, following a fight at Brick’s Off-Road Park, which is located southwest of Poplar Bluff. The case was heard by Judge Michael Pritchett.
Holt’s wife, Brenda, also was charged in Girard’s death, but those charged were later dropped.
During a preliminary hearing in November 2018, Russell Morris testified the Holts’ 12-year-old son ran into his camp area being chased by man, later identified as Girard. Morris said he got between the 12-year-old and Girard, who appeared to be intoxicated.
Girard threw a chair, Morris said, and Morris’s friend, Wade Hampton, punched Girard, knocking him to the ground. Hampton punched Girard a second time and told Girard he had hit a 12-year-old.
When Rickey Holt arrived, Morris testified, he asked who hit his son, then hit Girard three to five times. Brenda Holt then arrived and slapped Girard, who kicked Brenda Holt, knocking her out of her shoe before she kicked him. Rickey Holt began hitting Girard again.
In all, Morris said, Rickey Holt hit Girard a total of 10 to 20 times.
Girard later died from the injuries he suffered during the altercation.
Dr. Russell Deidiker, a forensic pathologist who performed an autopsy on Girard, testified at the same hearing in November 2018 the cause of Girard’s death was asphyxiation. Girard’s voice box, his hyoid bone and larynx, were fractured, which affected his ability to breathe. Girard also suffered several broken ribs.
With credit given for 1,083 days (almost three years) Holt already has served, he will serve at most five more years, according to Missouri Casenet.