WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Vergennes Man Sentenced for Hit-and-Run

As he awaited sentencing, 23-year-old Adam Desjardin did not look back at 21-year-old Rose Long-- the University of Vermont student he nearly killed a year ago.

Long was a top athlete and a member of the UVM cycling team, riding with friends on Pearl Street in Burlington when Desjardin hit her with his Jeep and drove off as she lay in the street with massive head injuries.

"You didn't leave the scene of an accident. You left my daughter on the road with her face broken off her skull, teeth in her stomach, gashes going into her septum, and through her skull in a large pool of blood," said Richard Long, Rose's father.

Rose Long has undergone a half million dollars of reconstructive surgery, so far.

"Every day I live with the consequences of your actions. Every day I look in the mirror and look at my face and think about how it used to be," Rose Long tearfully told Desjardin in court.

The state cut a plea deal for Desjardin-- a minimum of three years in prison. So Rose Long was especially upset because at Friday's hearing Desjardin asked the judge to reduce the three-year minimum to two years.

"Nothing ever can undo leaving the scene of a crime with serious bodily harm. My face. My identity," she said.

"I can only express how sorry I am that this all happened," Desjardin said.

When it was his turn Desjardin read what his lawyer called a sincere apology but Desjardin had trouble recognizing his victim.

Desjardin: Very sorry for what happened.

Judge Patricia Zimmerman: Do you want to look her and address her?

Desjardin: I don't know where she is.

Judge Zimmerman: There she is, right there.

Judge Zimmerman rejected Desjardin's request for the shorter sentence-- ordering that he would serve at least three years-- just as Rose Long had asked.

"When I try to compare the consequences imposed upon me compared to the consequences imposed upon him, there's just no equality," Rose Long said.

Desjardin was taken away to begin serving the sentence immediately.

Brian Joyce - WCAX News