T'ville man pleads guilty to manslaughter

Local News

Discussion

August 26, 2009

By GINA KINSLOW The Glasgow Daily Times Wed Aug 26, 2009, 05:14 PM CDT

TOMPKINSVILLE — A Monroe County man was scheduled to stand trial Tuesday in a manslaughter case, but decided to plead guilty instead.

Daniel Clay Cox, 50, of 319 K. Goad Road, Gamaliel, pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault in Monroe Circuit Court. A 10-year sentence was approved for each charge to run concurrently was recommended by the commonwealth, however, the sentence was probated for five years and the defendant’s right to operate a motor vehicle of any type was suspended, according to Monroe Circuit Court records. Because Cox’s case was probated for five years, he will not serve any jail time. He has served more than a year in custody, some of which was served while he was home incarcerated.

Cox was indicted by a Monroe County grand jury in June 2008 for second-degree assault and second-degree manslaughter when his car crossed the centerline of the road and struck a vehicle driven by Wendell Creek head-on in April 2008. Wendell Creek died from injuries sustained in the wreck. His wife, Joan, also sustained serious physical injury from the wreck, according to the indictment.

“Daniel was very happy with the plea bargain. It provides for his sentence to be probated. We felt like it was fair to both sides as part of his plea bargain. He agrees not to drive anymore,” said Greg Berry, a public defender who represented Cox.

Cox suffers from a staph infection in his leg and cannot operate a motor vehicle at this time, he said.

The commonwealth also felt Cox’s decision to change his plea was the right thing to do.

“Obviously, I feel it was appropriate under the circumstances and was done with the consent of the victims in the case,” said Clay Hundley Jr., assistant commonwealth’s attorney for Monroe, Cumberland and Clinton counties. “They had always maintained they weren’t vindictive against Mr. Cox. The main thing they wanted was to keep him off the road in the future.”

Hundley added he felt the commonwealth was successful in granting the victims’ wishes.

“If he violates the law in any respect there will be hearing and if the judge decides it is a severe enough violation and his probation would be revoked,” Hundley said.

The Court directed that a presentence investigation report be prepared and submitted by Sept. 16, with final sentencing also scheduled for Sept. 16.

Text Only

Local News

NIGHT UPDATE: Glasgow girl killed in crash
A 12-year-old Glasgow girl was killed in a crash in Russell County that involved three cars and eleven people.

May 28, 2012
UPDATE 3:05 p.m.: Fatal wreck on Burkesville Road
A Summer Shade man was identified as the driver in a fatal crash on Burkesville Road early Saturday morning.

May 26, 2012
Jail staff challenges Ober’s report
A long list of allegations made by a private investigator against the Barren County Detention Center is being challenged by a majority of the jail employees, who say they have not witnessed anything illicit.

May 25, 2012
BBBS honors volunteers Bell, Click
There’s no doubt about it. Tamara Click and Price Bell love spending time with their “little sister and little brother.”

May 25, 2012
Magistrates defend decision
Almost a month after a private investigator presented his summary report about the Barren County Detention Center and nearly five months since the initial vote for an investigation, the members of the Barren County Fiscal Court are standing by their decisions.

May 25, 2012
Park, students form partnership
Barren County Middle School and officials from Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP) began a partnership in 2009 through a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, according to a district news release.

May 25, 2012
Cemetery dedication planned Sunday
On Sunday, a dedication ceremony culminating efforts of several concerned citizens who restored the cemetery will take place at 2 p.m. at the D.F. West Cemetery on Ky. 70 near Hiseville.

May 25, 2012
No swimming allowed at lake for Memorial Day
Don’t visit Barren River Lake this Memorial Day weekend and expect to go swimming.

May 25, 2012
2:10 AFTERNOON UPDATE: Hart Co. man arrested for trafficking
May 25, 2012
9:03 a.m. Morning Update: Glasgow firefighters and Barren-Metcalfe EMS respond to wreck with injuries
May 25, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

T'ville man pleads guilty to manslaughter

Site Map