Associated Press - October 23, 2009 5:45 PM ET

RIVERTON, Wyo. (AP) - A judge has sentenced a Shoshoni man to 24 to 40 years in prison for the deaths of 2 people in a rollover crash.

Richard A. Tucker was convicted earlier of 2 counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.

The 45-year-old was sentenced Wednesday by District Judge Marvin L. Tyler.

Before the sentence was handed down, Tucker denied that he was responsible for the deaths last December of Zate L. Phillips, of Casper, and his mother, Koleen G. Phillips, of Shoshoni.

Tucker's defense attorney questioned whether Tucker was driving at the time of the crash or if 1 of his passengers had taken over. Prosecutors argued that was speculation and noted that Tucker had three previous drunken driving convictions.

Information from: The (Riverton) Ranger, http://www.dailyranger.com

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