VIDALIA — The Natchez resident who admitted guilt to charges of aggravated battery for opening the door of a moving vehicle into the back of a 14-year-old boy was sentenced to nine months in prison Monday at the Seventh Judicial Courthouse in Vidalia.

Spanky A. Felter, 20, 100 Red Loop Road, pleaded guilty to the charge of aggravated battery, and was sentenced to nine months in jail without hard labor and a $2,281.50 fine for various court and legal costs.

The maximum penalty for aggravated battery is 10 years in jail and a fine no more than $5,000.

The incident occurred Oct. 24 when Felter was the passenger of a Toyota truck driven by 20-year-old Cody Michael Freeman, 20, 154 Forest Home Road.

The two were traveling down Mooselodge Road near Vidalia when they spotted a pair of teenage brothers walking down the right side of the road toward Ferriday.

Upon spotting the two teenagers, Felter and Freeman reportedly then moved closer toward the teens and Felter opened his door as it was moving.

The door struck one of the boys in the back, and knocked him to the ground.

Freeman claimed to have been traveling anywhere from 30-34 mph at the time of the accident. The speed limit on Mooselodge Road is 25 mph.

Felter and Freeman fled the scene of the accident after it happened.

After learning of the accident, the victim’s mother spent numerous hours searching for the truck that struck her son, before she found it the next day in Natchez.

She then notified police of the vehicle’s whereabouts.

The victim was transported by ambulance to Natchez Community Hospital where he was treated for back injuries and then released.

District Attorney Brad Burget said injuries to the victim’s back, shoulders, specula and spine were all received from the accident.

Burget also said the truck door that struck the teen had a large dent in it and the glass knocked out of it due to the impact.

There was also a third person in the vehicle at the time of the incident who appeared and testified in court Monday.

The teenage girl riding with Felter and Freeman was brought in and questioned to help clear up whether or not the incident was an accident.

She testified that Felter and Freeman were “joking about” striking the teen before the incident occurred.

The teen also testified saying that there was never any discussion among the three about going back and helping the boy they struck with the door. Felter said that it was fear of getting in trouble that led to them driving away. Felter had little to say to Judge Kathy Johnson before she made her sentence, but he did apologize for his actions.

“I’m sorry,” he said before the court. “If I could take it back I would.”

Johnson said a lighter sentence of nine months was given to Felter because he had no prior convictions.

Felter will have to check himself in for his sentence by 9 a.m. May 2. Felter will be given credit to his sentence for the 45 days he has already spent in jail.

Freeman previously pleaded guilty to the charges of attempted battery and hit and run and is scheduled for sentencing May 4.