WKBT La Crosse, WI-NewsChannel 8-Boardman Gets Four Years in Prison for Hit-and-Run Death

Reported by Lara Reed

Boardman Gets Four Years in Prison for Hit-and-Run Death

A La Crosse woman convicted in the New Year's Even hit-and-run death on French Island is headed to prison.

La Crosse County Circuit Court Judge Scott Horne sentenced 38-year-old Rhonda Boardman to four years in prison and five years of extended supervision for the death of 55-year-old William Harter.

Harter was walking home near the Clinton Street bridge the night of December 31 when Boardman hit and killed him with her van and drove off.

Boardman was found guilty by a Jury June 11 of failure to render aid resulting in death and obstructing an officer.

Horne sentenced Boardman to nine months in the La Crosse County Jail for the obstruction charge, but she will serve that concurrent to her time in prison.

Boardman offered an apology to the Harter family, saying she made a horrible mistake.

"I regret taking a loved one from the Harter family, and for not having the courage to handle the situation the right way," Boardman said.

Harter's three sisters took the stand Wednesday, calling their brother loving, joyful and family-oriented.

"(We want Boardman to) think about that she has done," says Harter's sister, Linda Dayton. "I think she needs some time away from her family to think."

Boardman's daughter offered emotional testimony before sentencing.

"Outside of all of this, she's a good person," says her daughter Tanya. "She's my best friend, and I can go to her for anything."

As part of her probation, Boardman will be required to do 100 hours of community service for every year of her sentence. Part of that service will include public education to help others learn from what she calls a huge mistake.