Conrad pleads guilty to vehicular assault

A Jackson man pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of vehicular assault in connection with a car crash that injured three passengers.

Timothy Conrad, 22, admitted he was the driver in a Dec. 8 rollover accident on County Road 651.

Conrad faced up to 21 years in prison if convicted on all three counts.

In exchange for his guilty plea, the state recommended a lesser sentence of five years on each count, to be served concurrently, and participation in an alcohol treatment program administered by the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis reminded Conrad that he does not have to accept that recommendation.

If Conrad receives the recommended sentence, behaves well in prison and successfully completes the treatment program, he could be out in as little as 120 days, Lewis said.

"That's not an ironclad guarantee," Lewis advised Conrad during the case-review hearing. "Most of that depends on you and your performance in the program."

Conrad's guilty plea is a reversal from his earlier claim that he was not the driver in the crash.

On March 25, Conrad had entered a plea of not guilty to the three charges, which stem from a crash that injured James Flesher, Lauren Timpe and Kaylie Van Troba, who were riding in the 2004 BMW Conrad was driving.

In a 911 call after the crash, Conrad referred to the driver as "she." He later told police Flesher was the driver, but an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol revealed inconsistencies in his account.

Flesher and Timpe both told police Conrad was driving.

Formal sentencing is set for May 28.

epriddy@semissourian.com

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