JONESBOROUGH-- David M. Houser received conditional probation requiring six months in the county jail for taking the lives of four young people and endangering two others in a car crash on Interstate 181 last February.

Washington County Criminal Court Judge Arden Hill pronounced sentencing late Friday after an emotional and lengthy hearing.

On February 4, Houser's brother and girlfriend were killed when the car he was driving collided with another on the way home to Church Hill from a rock concert in Johnson City. Houser and the other passenger in his car were also badly injured.

The two passengers in the other car were killed, while the driver was severely injured.

Houser, who fought back tears when recounting the fatal night, showed no emotion during the sentencing. The courtroom was silent.

The 30-year-old from Church Hill pleaded guilty Nov. 5 to four counts of reckless endangerment.

The reduced charges from the original indictment of vehicular homicide were reached through a plea-bargain.

The judge noted that Houser, a high school body shop teacher, would have been eligible for parole in 72 months under the maximum sentence for all counts of criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment.

But while Hill believed Houser should do some time because of the lives lost and severe injuries, he also said he did not think prison was appropriate.

The judge required time in the Washington County jail as a condition of an extended five year probation.

The order also included 30 days of community service, full restitution (not yet determined), random alcohol and drug tests, and no contact with families of the victims.

Houser was ordered to report to jail Feb. 22.

The judge also noted the jail time was required "to avoid the general public thinking there's no consequence to something like this and to deter like crimes in Washington County."

Because there was no trial the sentencing and probation hearing was the first time both sides had the chance to present their sides in full.

On Friday, Houser admitted taking a drink six hours before the accident, but two blood tests found him under the 0.10 legal limit of intoxication.

Houser also admitted to taking Valium. He said he normally took two a day, as he did the day of the crash, as prescribed for nerves.

"As far as I'm concerned, even the least amount of alcohol can influence your system, particularly when combined with Valium and speeding at high rates", the judge said.

There was also conflicting testimony and evidence presented indicating that Houser may not have been the only one at fault. Houser testified that the driver of the other car increased speed when Houser attempted to pass on the right.

The driver of the other car testified he did not remember anything between watching the concert and waking up in a hospital bed.

But the judge noted that while that information may be mitigating, Houser already had pleaded guilty.

Mourning family members described Houser as callous and showing no remorse. They told secondhand accounts of how Houser had reportedly been out at clubs with a new girlfriend since the crash.

But Houser supporters, including Hawkins County school personnel, depicted Houser as a responsible, caring, hard-working and honest individual active in church.

They said he was suicidal after the accident, often cried and wished he had died instead of the others. He was heartbroken over the loss of his brother and girlfriend, according to testimony.

Other testimony and evidence against Houser depicted him as a hothead who flew into rages. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault charges in the fall after punching his ex-wife's husband in the nose.

Also, Houser blamed most of his problems brought out during testimony on others. He did accept blame for the accident but also noted that the other driver may have contributed.

It was also brought out the Houser was recently beaten severely with a tire iron by an unidentified assailant after allegedly receiving threatening phone calls. He testified he now has steel plates in his head and would have to undergo more surgery.