Camillus man sentenced to prison for fatal hit-and-run after drinking 16 drinks

Syracuse, N.Y. – A Camillus man was sentenced to prison Monday after admitting to leaving the scene of a fatal crash with a bicyclist in the town of Onondaga.

Jeffery Cleeton, 55, was driving a pickup truck after drinking heavily when he struck a man on a bicycle Dec. 14, prosecutors said. Video from a local bar showed Cleeton drinking six beers and about 16 ounces of clear liquor, or about 10 shots.

The victim, Lee H. Riley, 53, was found dead the next day in a ravine off the 4000 block of Bussey Road.

After hitting the bike, Cleeton left the scene and was arrested a few days later.

On Monday, he was sentenced to two to six years in prison.

Cleeton was originally scheduled to be sentenced in April, but proceedings were delayed after Cleeton changed attorneys and filed a motion to withdraw his plea.

Cleeton's new attorney, Michael Kasmarek, appeared in court Monday to explain why Cleeton should be allowed to withdraw his plea.

Kasmarek told Judge Mary Anne Doherty that Cleeton pleaded guilty while maintaining he was innocent.

He argued that Cleeton did not know he had hit anyone, which is a requirement of the prosecution which he had previously admitted. Kasmarek said Cleeton felt a “thud” from the passenger side of the car, stopped and got out to look around.

Kasmarek said Cleeton saw the damage but couldn't see what he hit to cause the damage. Riley had fallen into a ravine on the side of the road.

Kasmarek also said an insurance report filed the next day proved Cleeton was not trying to cover up the accident.

Kasmarek also said the case was settled by Cleeton's former attorney, David Zukher, in just two months. Kasmarek said the timeline seemed very quick and questioned whether Zukher had explored all of Cleeton's legal options and defenses before the case closed.

Kasmarek said Cleeton did not understand the consequences of his decision to plead guilty.

Prosecutor Frank Pelosi said the law requires Cleeton to know or have “reason to know” that he hit someone.

The significant damage would have made it known that he could have hit someone. Pelosi also pointed out that one of Riley's shoes was on the shoulder of the road and would have been visible if Cleeton had gotten out of his car.

Pelosi also pointed out that Cleeton had been drinking heavily that night and could have faced more serious charges if he had not pleaded guilty at the time.

The judge reminded Cleeton that she asked him several times if he understood the plea agreement and what he was admitting to when he agreed to the deal. She told him she was very careful about accepting guilty pleas for that very reason.

She denied his request to withdraw his plea and proceeded with sentencing. He was taken into custody and will be held at the Onondaga County Justice Center Jail until he is transferred to the state prison.

Editor Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. A tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at [email protected].