PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Johnson County man has been sentenced to 13-years in prison in connection to the 2023 deaths of two Prestonsburg High School students.

Marcus Logan Auxier, 23, of Paintsville, was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty on two counts of vehicular manslaughter and first-degree assault. 

Floyd Circuit Judge Johnny Ray Harris ruled that Auxier must serve 85-percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Auxier was driving under the influence when he crashed his vehicle on KY Route 680 in Branham’s Creek in July 2023, killing 16-year-old Kendra J. Moreno and 13-year-old McKenna Barnett.