Suspect in fatal hit and run has slew of previous driving charges

Jan. 31--An Augusta man in custody as part of an investigation into a fatal hit-and-run incident along Wrightsboro Road, has previously faced hit and run charges and has a slew of prior traffic related charges.

George Pacheco, 28, of Augusta, is charged with hit and run, driving while license suspended or revoked, vehicular homicide in the first degree and improper passing. He is currently being held in the Columbia County Detention Center on a $22,000 bond.

Pacheco has been identified as the driver that struck Charles McDaniel, 59, who was riding his bicycle on Wrightsboro Road between Hagan Road and Kettle Creek, Jan. 25.

McDaniel, who police believe was struck from behind, suffered severe head trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police reports.

Pacheco, who turned himself into authorities Jan. 25, has a long history of driving and family violence incidents dating back to 2007 in Richmond County.

In Oct. 2007, Pacheco was charged with following too closely and no driver's license. He was sentenced to 12 months probation and 40 hours of community service for each charge.

Less than a year later in Sept. 2008, Pacheco was charged with simple battery family violence and sentenced to 12 months probation and a $300 fine.

And the list goes on. In May, 2009, Pacheco was charged again with following too closely and violation of the condition of an instructional permit. He was sentenced to 12 months probation and a $140 fine.

Eight months later, in Jan. 2010, Pacheco was charged again with family violence and battery and sentenced to pay a $600 fine. Days later, he was charged with no proof of insurance and following too closely to which he was sentenced to pay a $750 fine and 12 months probation for each charge.

One year later, Pacheco faced new charges of driving with a suspended/revoked license and driving an unregistered vehicle in May, 2011. He was sentenced to pay a $600 fine and sentenced to 12 months probation on each charge.

In Jan. 2012, Pacheco was charged with speeding and child restraint violation. The speeding charge was reduced and he was sentenced to 12 months probation and a $170 fine.

In Feb. 2013, Pacheco was charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license, a charge that was reduced to no driver's license and was sentenced to 12 months probation and a $500 fine. That same year, in May, 2013, Pacheco was charged with felony cruelty to children in the first degree and was sentenced under the First Offender Act to 300 hours of community service.

And in 2015, Pacheco was charged again with speeding and sentenced to pay a $100 fine.

In 2016, Pacheco was charged with another hit and run, along with failure to maintain lane and leaving the scene of an accident to which he was sentenced to 24 months probation and a $400 fine.

In the most recent incident, police said Pacheco fled the scene before deputies arrived and a lookout was issued for identification of the driver.

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