BELL COUNTY, Texas — A Bell County judge sentenced Jason Bernal to six years in prison for the deaths of a 4-year-old girl and her father on April 4, 2024.
According to court records, Bernal was sentenced three years for each count of criminally negligent homicide, a third-degree felony that carries a sentence of 2 to 10 years in prison.
Bernal was accused of backing his three-story houseboat over Kaitlyn Oliver and her dad, Patrick Oliver, on Belton Lake, near Temple Lake Park, in June 2017.
The four year old died shortly after being hit by the houseboat. Patrick Oliver was severely injured while attempting to rescue her, having to have both of his legs amputated. However, he died about two weeks after the incident from a blood clot.
Bernal took a plea agreement in April of 2023.
Back in January 2024, several of the Oliver's family members testified in court, sharing their feelings and what life is like without Kaitlyn and Patrick to a judge.
Two wardens with the Texas Parks and Wildlife, Brandt Berstein and Chris Sanchez also testified about different encounters they have had with Bernal on the lake since the deadly incident.
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