September 23, 2011 Man pleads guilty in death of Mohawk Valley Community College security officer www.privateofficer.com
HERKIMER NY Sept 23 2011 — Although he doesn’t remember the crash in Frankfort that killed a security guard at Mohawk Valley Community College one year ago this month, Roy Kangas admitted in court Wednesday that he was driving drunk at the time of the deadly collision.
Kangas, 23, of Rome, pleaded guilty in Herkimer County Court to aggravated first-degree vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated. He faces 7 to 14 years in prison when he is due to be sentenced by Judge Patrick Kirk on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 2 p.m.
Kangas had appeared in court Wednesday for what was supposed to be a hearing over whether police took a sample of blood from Kangas to test for alcohol without his permission following the Sept. 10, 2010, car crash that killed 34-year-old Terry Kohl.
But after prosecutors spoke with Kohl’s family at the court house that morning, Assistant District Attorney Jeff Carpenter said both sides agreed that a guilty plea would be in everyone’s best interest.
“I think it’s a just result for both parties given the facts and circumstances of the case,” Carpenter said after the proceeding, particularly noting the debate over whether police had legally taken Kangas’ blood. “We were at the point in time where we were going to litigate these issues, which obviously would have affected the bargaining position for one side or the other, depending on the outcome of the hearing.”
Kangas’ defense attorney, Mark Curley, could not immediately be reached for comment.
During his plea, Kangas admitted he first began drinking that night while at work for a trucking company before continuing to drink beer and shots at Mr. McGill’s bar on Route 5 in Schuyler, Carpenter said.
With Kangas’ blood alcohol content level at 0.23 percent – nearly three times the legal limit – the last thing he can recall was driving along Dyke Road in Frankfort, Carpenter said. But as far as the deadly accident, Kangas said he doesn’t remember it at all.
Kangas is also facing 2 to 6 years in prison when he is sentenced in Oneida County Court for violating his probation by not reporting the deadly car accident while outside of the county.
After talking with Kohl’s family members about the plea, Carpenter did not want to discuss their reaction to the punishment Kangas would face.
“It’s been difficult for them, to say the least,” Carpenter said. “I don’t want to speak for them on whether they are satisfied because I don’t think there’s anything that can completely resolve the case when you have a tragedy like this.”
Source:uticahod.com
Tags: Roy Kangas, Terry Kohl
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