Semi driver who was convicted of low fees

Licking County, Ohio (Wsyx) – The semi-drink driver accused the fatal bus accident, in which six people were killed in 2023.

The public prosecutor was looking for the more serious serious indictment for vehicle murder against Jacob McDonald, but the district judge David Branstool licked it when he concluded the banking procedure on Friday. Judge Braneslloll described this case as one of the most difficult in his career before reading the conviction.

“I will guilty of one in a non -guilty judgment about (the tightened) one, one counts by six and seven to 15,” he told the court. Hearable screams as a gasp came from the packaged courtroom after the judge had spoken. “However, I will enter guilty judgments about the less disturbed crimes that are vehicle murder. The evidence is not enough to determine that he has knowingly done this. This job gives me the opportunity to recognize how at different points in our lives we are all only removed a few seconds before a disaster, and that happened here.”

Judge Bran Folle said that McDonald was not demonstrated that McDonald harmed the participants physically or acted ruthlessly.

“There were many arguments and evidence of the accused's cell phone,” added Judge Bran Foll. “To be honest, I have not found the evidence of the data form that convinced the mobile phone.”

The public prosecutor argued that the 61-year-old McDonald was distracted from his cell phone when he began with the crash reaction accident, in which three members of the Tuscarawas Valley High School, two parent chaperone and one teacher took part:

• John (Wyatt) Mosley, 18
• Jeffery (JD) Worrell, 18
• Katelyn Owens, 15
• Shannon Wigfield, 45
• Kristy Gaynor, 39
• Dave Kennat, 56

The crash occurred along the Interstate 70 in Etna, east of Columbus on November 14, 2023. The band drove to Columbus to perform.

“I think that Mr. McDonald is responsible for this accident and this collision,” said judge Branstool to the courtroom with members of the Tusky Valley Community. “However, I find that the state has not undoubtedly produced the element of ruthlessness.”

As the judge read the judgment, members of the Tusky Valley Community remained stunned. Some members even left the courtroom and tried to control their emotions.

“Realistically, our system is based on the law and is based on facts,” licks County Asst. Prosecutor Clifford Murphy said. “Juries decide cases and due to a defense you can apply for a banking procedure. This is our system and we respect the decision of the court.”

McDonald's lawyer said that he strategically tried this case on the bank and decided to check all the facts in contrast to a jury.

“There are 1.8 terabytes of data that we moved into with this case,” said lawyer Chris Brigdon. “If you look at the facts, it was a tragic accident. The judge read the definitions of ruthlessness and negligence in recording and ruthlessness.”

The deputy prosecutor of County, Clifford Murphy, said he did not agree to the judge's decision.

“They suffered an enormous loss,” he said of the families of the victims. “It is an incalculable loss. Unfortunately, the system did not serve it in this case. If a picture is taken by you [at the scene] If you don't expect it and if you have your hands in the air and you are completely unsuspecting what happened, you are probably ruthless. So we do not agree [with the verdict]. I do not think that if you bury six people and have a number of other people who have suffered serious life -changing injuries that will be a closure. “

Lawyer Sean Alto von Cooper Elliot, on behalf of Wigfield's family, made an explanation that represents old in her civil proceedings.

Today's judgment acknowledges that Mr. McDonald is responsible for the crash that Shannon Wigfield's life cost, but the result is bitter sweet to the Wigfield family. While the court found that this was not a guilty tragedy, it no longer heard to provide the entire level of accountability that their family believes that they are justified. Shannon was a beloved mother, wife and teacher. Her life was important. Our work is not done. The civil procedure will continue to urge the full truth and permanent changes. We owe Shannon and every family who travels the streets of Ohio to make sure that such a tragedy never happens again.

The defense had denied the public prosecutor's defense and also claimed that McDonald was traveling with an average speed of 70 miles per hour and that an inevitable sudden event led to the collision.

A parent from the Tusky Valley community was among those who were gathered in the full courtroom when the verdict was read. She had a question to the accused.

“Can you please be honest and say what you did that day and that you are sorry for?” Asked Danielle Goedel.

The lawyer of McDonalds, Chris Brigdon, offered a sympathetic reaction after the judgment.

“I understand the pain, I do,” he said. “I have a teenager myself. I can't even fathom this loss. We tried this case within the limits of the law. Everyone is entitled to the best possible defense, and we did our job so well that we could possibly have it.”

McDonald's conviction was not set, but he was able to spend up to 18 months in prison.