Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
For a second time, Edwin Lynch of Springfield, Ohio, pleaded guilty in a criminal case pending against him in Kosciusko Circuit Court.
Lynch, 50, entered a plea of guilty before Judge Rex Reed on Thursday to a Class C felony offense of reckless homicide. The plea agreement calls for up to three years in prison. The penalty range for a Class C felony is two to eight years and any amount of sentence more than three years would be suspended if the plea agreement is accepted.
Five months ago, Reed rejected a plea from Lynch in which he admitted to criminal recklessness, a Class D felony, with a prison cap of 18 months.
Lynch was the driver of a semi tractor/trailer that struck a car driven by Jill L. Carpenter March 29, 1999, while Carpenter was stopped for a red traffic light on U.S. 30 at CR 150W. Carpenter, 33, of Etna Green, was trapped in her vehicle and later died as a result of her injuries.
Kosciusko County Prosecutor Charles Waggoner said after Thursday's hearing that he believes this plea will be accepted by Reed. The difference with this plea versus the previous plea, Waggoner said, is that "this time he admits he killed her (Carpenter)." In the prior plea, Lynch admitted only to recklessness and Waggoner said he thinks that is why the judge rejected it.
During questioning by his attorney, Jay Rigdon of Rockhill Pinnick, LLP, Warsaw, Lynch responded in the affirmative to: "Were you reckless in a manner that resulted in the death of Jill Carpenter?" The questioning was to establish a factual basis for the charges against Lynch.
Lynch also could be fined up to $10,000. A civil lawsuit resulting from the accident was settled in 2001.
The plea was taken under advisement and sentencing was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 11.
