Man punished for deadly 2024 accident in Vernon

"In Wilbarger County, a man involved in a fatal crash in 2024 that resulted in the death of a respected pastor and educator in Vernon has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Jacob Wiley Conn, a 21-year-old from Vernon, was charged with manslaughter following a tragic two-car collision on College Drive in Vernon on September 12, 2024, which tragically took the life of Irl Holt, a revered educator and pastor. Recently, during a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Conn accepted responsibility by pleading guilty to a reduced charge of criminally negligent homicide. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation, including a 60-day jail term in Wilbarger County, as decided by Judge Cornell Curtis. As part of his sentence, Conn will also have to relinquish his driver's license for one year. The fatal crash, which occurred near the Vernon College campus, was investigated by the Vernon Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Investigators found that Conn's vehicle was speeding at 85 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone when the collision took place. Despite this tragedy, District Attorney Jon Whitsitt noted that Holt's family showed extraordinary forgiveness by supporting the plea agreement. Holt's daughter expressed her hope that Conn would learn from this experience and use his story to educate others about the risks associated with speeding. In court, Conn apologized to Holt's family for his actions while expressing remorse for the consequences of his reckless behavior."