Bend driver sentenced to 7 years in prison for 2021 DUII hit-and-run crash that killed popular cyclist

(Update: Adding video, comments from Richard Wolf's wife, Deschutes County DA)

'He will be paying society for that behavior'

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Flynn David Lovejoy was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to drunken driving, hit-and-run and other charges in the August 2021 crash that killed popular 61-year-old cyclist Richard Wolf on the Cascade Lakes Highway west of Bend.

Lovejoy, now 21, was in tears at times and could be seen trembling when numerous family and friends of Wolf got up and read their victim impact statements, describing the continued effects of their loss.

The courtroom of Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby was packed wall-to-wall with cyclist friends of Wolf, as well as several family members of Michele Decker, Wolf's wife.

The most serious charge facing Lovejoy, first-degree manslaughter, was dismissed, but Lovejoy pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide DUII, failure to perform the duties of a driver to a seriously injured person (hit-and-run), recklessly endangering another person and reckless driving.

After the emotional plea and sentencing hearing, I spoke with Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels and Decker about the outcome of the case.

"He was originally charged with manslaughter, and somebody convicted of manslaughter can't participate in treatment programs while in prison," Gunnels said. "A criminally negligent homicide conviction allows him to participate in treatment programs while in prison."

Decker spoke with NewsChannel 21 on the courthouse steps before the sentencing.

"They tried to come to the best sentence, not only for justice for (Rich) but also for Flynn, so that he will be paying society for that behavior from that day," she said. "I know already that he is learning from that, and will now be paying that due that he has to Rich, to me and my family. But also, to our community."

Besides being a great athlete and mathematician, Decker said her husband was best known for his kindness and smile. He was one of the best cyclists in the region, she said, consistently competing in and winning races around Central Oregon.

After impact statements, Lovejoy did turn and tell Decker's family he was sorry for his actions.

Under the sentence imposed by Ashby, Lovejoy also will have his driver license revoked permanently, and be on post-prison supervision for three years.

He'll be 28 years old when he's released, if he serves the maximum seven-year sentence.