A 21-year-old man involved in a high-speed car crash that killed a schoolmate in 2006 was found guilty this afternoon of negligent homicide instead of a manslaughter charge sought by prosecutors.

Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario ruled that the defendant, Keanan Tantog, lacked the "reckless" state of mind required to be proven for a manslaughter conviction.

The maximum sentence for the negligent homicide charge is 10 years in prison and the minimum is probation.

A manslaughter conviction is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Del Rosario's decision in the nonjury trial was deplored by Johanna Ramos, mother of the victim, Bobby J. Gouveia, as well as by Jennifer Dotson, executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Tantog was driving a car traveling an estimated 100 mph that was alternately passing and being passed by cars driven by friends when he lost control of his vehicle, flipped over and sheered off a roadside sign.

Gouveia, a passenger in Tantog's car, was killed and another passenger, Alexander Kinney, was seriously injured.

Tantog will be sentenced July 14.