This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A man who struck six Kearns Junior High students with his car and narrowly missed six more was sentenced to five years of probation Friday.
Luka Wall Kang, 51, spent more than a year in jail while the trial progressed. He has been taking medication and undergoing therapy since his release in August, social workers told 3rd District Judge Deno Himonas at a sentencing hearing Friday. That treatment has worked, they said.
"He has been ... the kindest person I believe I've ever worked with," said Petra Pallos, an assistant professional counselor at Valley Mental Health.
The prosecution and the defense agreed that probation would be best for Kang, a Sudanese refugee who was diagnosed as suffering from depression with psychosis when he drove his sedan onto a sidewalk in May 2009. He struck or touched six students walking home from school and narrowly missed six others.
"One of my best friends got hit on the road," said 14-year-old Thomas Perez, who was himself hit and bounced off the car. None of the children suffered serious injuries, though Thomas still has two quarter-size scars on his arm from cuts he suffered when he was hit.
His mother, Rina Perez, said she was "confused" about the sentence.
"It was crazy, just to see all the kids bleeding,"she said. "I wanted him to go to prison."
Kang pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, but with the time he has already served, his remaining prison sentence could total only a few months with good behavior, said prosecutor Sandi Johnson.
"We don't believe he intentionally tried to run over those children," she said. "As long as he's on his medication, he's a productive member of society."
Kang has found work since his release from jail, defense attorney Ray Shuey said, and a prison sentence could interrupt his treatment and medication. Kang would be supervised for only three years upon his release from prison, compared with five years on probation, Johnson pointed out.
"It was just an accident, it was not [my] intention, and I'm very sorry," Kang said through an interpreter. "I will have no problem with the kids again or anybody."
The terms of Kang's probation stipulate that he may not drive a car and must continue mental health treatment. He must also complete 200 hours of community service and pay restitution to the victims.
Himonas suspended Kang's sentence of up to five years on each count of aggravated assault, but ordered those sentences to be served consecutively if Kang violates the terms of his probation.
"It does appear it was not intentional," Himonas said. But "if I'm wrong about this, I want him to be placed in prison for as long as possible."