Rohnert Park Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison For Fatal Hit-and-Run

A Rohnert Park man was sentenced in Sonoma County Superior Court to more than five ears in prison Monday for the crash death of a 17-year-old American Canyon boy in July.

Michael Scott Harmon, 41, pleaded guilty to felony hit-and-run causing death and no contest to felony vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Harmon also admitted he was driving without insurance.

Harmon's 1969 Ford F-150 truck ran off southbound Lakeville Highway south of Old Lakeville Road No. 1 and struck an embankment around 12:15 a.m. on July 2, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The truck then swerved into oncoming traffic and struck the driver's side of a northbound 1989 GMC S-15 pickup, killing 17-year-old Jahzeel Dwayne Forsen.

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch said Forsen was driving home after spending the day working at his grandparents' restaurant in Sebastopol.

A witness gave the CHP a description of the Ford driver who ran from the scene. Harmon turned himself in to the CHP after a friend threatened to call police if he did not surrender, Ravitch said.

Ravitch said Harmon admitted he was on his way to purchase methamphetamine when he swerved off the side of the road, overcorrected and crashed into Forsen's oncoming pickup.

Harmon was on probation at the time of the crash for possessing methamphetamine and had been participating in a drug diversion program,
Ravitch said.

Judge Robert LaForge sentenced him to five years and four months in prison.