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Prison For Hitting, Killing Child in Wilkes-Barre

WILKES-BARRE — A man was sentenced Thursday afternoon for hitting and killing a little boy in Wilkes-Barre and then taking off. It’s two to five yea...

WILKES-BARRE -- A man was sentenced Thursday afternoon for hitting and killing a little boy in Wilkes-Barre and then taking off. It's two to five years in prison for Thomas Letteer.

It was just days before Christmas in 2012 when Miller was hit along West North Street in the city.

Letteer then left the scene prompting an extensive search throughout the Wyoming Valley.

His car was found a month later.

Letteer pleaded guilty to the incident.

Letteer's bail was revoked immediately after the sentencing.

"You don't often see a case with such a truly innocent victim as Kevin Miller, a five year old with a beautiful big smile to young to have even seen, to even so much as have a mean spirited thought," said Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis.

In court, Letteer said, "I feel terrible. I hope I can counsel people in similar situations after jail. I'm a good guy."

Letteer's family released a letter that reads in part, "Our son is not the monster as he was made out to be. There are no winners to this terrible tragedy. God bless the Miller family."

Members of Kevin Miller's family, wore yellow clothing and yellow roses in his honor.

Kevin's brother, Steve, spoke in court saying, "I wish the man who took Kevin would suffer a lot. Kevin was my best friend."

After the sentencing, Kevin's mother spoke about her fight for harsher penalties for hit and run drivers.

"I do this first and foremost for my precious Kevin, but I also do this so that any mother and any family will never have to live in the hell that I and my family will live in for the rest of our lives," said Caroline Miller.

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