20-year sentence in vehicle manslaughter case

A chronic DUI offender was sentenced March 10 to 20 years to life in prison for gross negligence vehicle manslaughter while intoxicated, an enhancement of fleeing the scene, and felony hit and run.

Larry L. Halverson, 61, had been found guilty on those charges on Oct. 1.

Patrick Purnell, 51, was killed Sept. 4, 2011, when he was crossing Ski Run Boulevard near Forest Avenue in South Lake Tahoe. A vehicle driven by Halverson struck him. He was driving despite having his license revoked for prior DUIs.

Halverson had nine prior driving under the influence convictions, of which eight were talked about before the El Dorado County Superior Court jury last year.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report