Anthony Futia, the man who admitted to crashing a motorcycle into a family walking on the Warren County bike trail, killing two people, has just been deemed a persistent felony offender.

Mark Mulholland has learned that Judge Robert Smith issued a decision late Thursday afternoon that means Futia will be sentenced to up to life in prison for the death of Jamie Persons, and his 8-year-old stepson, Quinton Delgadillo. Futia was high on drugs and alcohol when he was speeding and drove onto the bike trail, causing the deadly crash. Before he was convicted of manslaughter and aggravated vehicular homicide in that case, he’d been convicted of burglary, stabbing and grand larceny, plus according to the district attorney, dozens of other crimes that never went to trial.

Judge Rob Smith wrote, “…the people have proven, beyond a reasonable doubt…that the defendant is a persistent felony offender…the people have further proven, that the history and character of the defendant, and the nature and circumstances of his criminal conduct, are such that extended incarceration and lifetime supervision of the defendant are warranted to best serve the public interest.”

The judge is expected to sentence Futia to 15 years to life on February 6.