Executive Summary
- Derian Jerome Bailey, 27, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a fatal 2022 crash in Baton Rouge.
- The crash occurred during a high-speed police chase and resulted in the death of his passenger, Larry Harris.
- Bailey pleaded no contest to negligent homicide and a weapons charge as part of a plea agreement.
- At the time of the incident, Bailey was out on bail for a separate attempted murder charge and had a prior manslaughter conviction.
A Baton Rouge man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing a fatal crash in September 2022 while fleeing from police. Derian Jerome Bailey, 27, received the sentence after pleading no contest in July to charges of negligent homicide and illegal carrying of weapons with controlled dangerous substances.
Case Details
The sentencing, handed down by District Judge Brad Myers on November 4, includes five years for negligent homicide and a consecutive five years for the weapons charge. The charges stem from a high-speed chase that ended when Bailey crashed into two other vehicles. His passenger, Larry Harris, was ejected from the vehicle and died from his injuries. Three individuals in the other vehicles were hospitalized.
The incident began when a detective attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle Bailey was driving. Bailey sped away, running red lights and driving into oncoming traffic before the collision at the intersection of Winbourne Avenue and Acadian Thruway. After the crash, Bailey fled on foot but was apprehended by police a short distance away.
Evidence and Prior Record
According to police reports, a .40-caliber Glock and a Micro Draco semiautomatic pistol were recovered at the scene, along with two grams of marijuana. Prosecutors stated that in jail calls, Bailey admitted to fleeing because he knew he had firearms in the car. The plea deal saw prosecutors reduce an initial manslaughter charge and dismiss four other crash-related counts.
At the time of the fatal crash, Bailey was out on bail for a 2018 attempted murder charge. He also has a prior conviction for manslaughter related to a 2012 home invasion he committed at age 14, for which he was tried as an adult and sentenced in 2019. Regarding the separate 2018 charges, it is important to note that an individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.