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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A man accused of killing another motorist while under the influence of methamphetamine reached a plea agreement Thursday that will send him to jail for up to six years.</p><p>Jacob Francis Harvey, 26, of 232 Waterton Ave., Shickshinny, pleaded guilty in Luzerne County Court to charges of homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence of a controlled substance and reckless endangerment. He was immediately sentenced by Luzerne County Judge Lesa S. Gelb to three to six years in state prison followed by two years probation.</p><p>How Harvey moves forward in life now rested on him, the judge said.</p><p>&#8220;You could make a decision now that this will just be a chapter and you will live your life in a way that you honor the wishes and the sacrifices that are being made now,&#8221; Gelb said to Harvey, who did not address the court.</p><p>&#8220;This will be a chapter, but this will not be a whole book,&#8221; the judge said.</p><p>Harvey was charged in April with homicide by vehicle while under the influence after he allegedly admitted to smoking methamphetamine before a head-on wreck in Conyngham Township on Feb. 8 that killed 54-year-old Matthew Ruch and injured his daughter, Rachel.</p><p>According to a criminal complaint, Harvey admitted to State Trooper Anthony Stempien he had smoked methamphetamine before his Ford Ranger veered over the center line into oncoming traffic and collided with a Mitsubishi Galant driven by Ruch.</p><p>Rachel Ruch had told investigators the last thing she remembered was her father saying, &#8220;Oh my god, he&#8217;s going to hit us and I&#8217;m going to die.&#8221; She sustained bone fractures in the collision but survived.</p><p>Ruch&#8217;s oldest daughter, Katie, called her father a &#8220;compassionate man&#8221; who would have wanted her to say something Thursday. While she expressed understanding in the incident, no prison sentence nor any amount of money could bring her father back, she said.</p><p>&#8220;I really am sorry that we&#8217;re here,&#8221; she said, &#8220;And I really, really miss my dad.&#8221;</p><p>Francis&#8217; attorney, Chief Public Defender Steven M. Greenwald, said the family&#8217;s understanding and compassion helped resolve the case long ago. He stated Harvey has shown a willingness to change and has attended weekly drug and alcohol classes in prison, but acknowledged, &#8220;No one really wants to be here.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;These are very very difficult proceedings obviously for him and the family,&#8221; Greenwald said outside the courtroom.</p><p>Assistant District Attorney Thomas Hogans said Harvey took responsibility from the beginning.</p><p>&#8220;Given the fact that he took responsibility, we think this is a great sentence,&#8221; Hogans said, noting Ruch&#8217;s family was behind the plea agreement 100 percent.</p><p>&#8220;He is taking steps to improve himself,&#8221; Hogans said. &#8220;Hopefully he continues on with that.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Harvey </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_harvey-jacob-3-23-2010-4.jpg</photo0><caption0>Harvey </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Jacob Francis Harvey, 26, sentenced to up to six years</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Shickshinny man pleads guilty in motorist’s death