
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, December 12, 1993                   TAG: 9312130305
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

19-YEAR-OLD SENTENCED

Nineteen-year-old Michael E. Peak of Max Meadows has been sentenced to four years in prison for two involuntary manslaughter convictions stemming from two traffic deaths.

Peak pleaded no contest to the charges last week in Wythe County Circuit Court. Judge Willis Woods imposed six-year sentences on each charge, with eight of the 12-year total suspended. Peak will be on probation for five years after his release.

Peak was the driver of a pickup truck March 29 in Wytheville which hit a compact car turning into the Lowe's Food parking lot on W. Main St. Two passengers in the car, Robert Rakes, 37, and Marvin Barnes, 36, were killed.

Testimony at the trial indicated that the pickup truck was speeding.

by CNB