Man Found Guilty Of Homicide In Jet Ski Crash That Killed Usher’s Stepson

The family friend accused of killing Usher’s 11-year-old stepson Kile Glover in a 2012 jet ski accident was behind bars Friday after a jury found him guilty of homicide.
Jeffrey Hubbard, 40, was convicted Thursday in Gainesville, GA, after jurors deliberated just 90 minutes, the Gainesville Times reported.

He’s expected to receive between three and 23 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for March 5.
The jury found Hubbard guilty of homicide by vessel, serious injury by vessel, reckless and unlawful operation of his jet ski and a boat traffic violation.

Authorities previously told the Daily News that Kile and a 15-year-old female friend were riding on an inflatable raft being pulled by a pontoon on Lake Lanier in July 2012 when Hubbard’s watercraft smashed into them.
“One second the jet ski was running around, the next he ran over the top of them,” Sgt. Mike Burgamy with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources said at the time. “It appears the watercraft did strike both juveniles, with the male taking the brunt of the force.”
Both young victims were wearing life jackets, he said.
Kile was the son of Ryan Glover, president of Bounce TV, and Tameka Foster Raymond, the ex-wife of Usher.

Ryan, the pilot of the pontoon, and wife Marsha Glover had primary custody of the boy at the time of his death.
Hubbard’s defense lawyer tried to convince jurors that Ryan caused the accident by pulling the pontoon into the path of the jet ski.
Marsha lashed out at Hubbard in a victim impact statement delivered in court Thursday, saying his attempt to blame Ryan gave them the strength to attend the trial.
“We forgave Jeff. My husband did, even on the lake. That’s why it’s appalling to me that the defense blames my husband. My husband sat on the lake, and even after his son was being carried away, even after he (tried) to help his son, he still worried about Jeff,” she said.

She claimed Hubbard “didn’t lift a finger” during the rescue attempt.
“Everyone lifted a finger to help, except for Jeff,” she said. “What Jeff did, which wasn’t presented here, was cried and hugged himself and cried. He never lifted a finger to help any of us.”
She said Hubbard never offered an apology.

“All he has done in return is use my husband as an excuse for his actions, which he knows well he is accountable for,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “We’re not here for revenge. We’re not here because we dislike you. We’re just here (for you) to be held accountable for your actions.”
Hubbard’s defense lawyer Jeffery Talley called the verdict “unfortunate.”
“It’s a tragedy,” he told the Gainesville Times. “It just furthers the tragedy in the case.”

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