Teen pleads guilty in crash
BY IAN C. STOREY
istorey@record-eagle.com
Record-Eagle/Tyler Sipe Justin Nguyen appears before Circuit Judge Philip E. Rodgers Jr. Friday afternoon at the Grand Traverse County Courthouse. Nguyen pleaded guilty to two charges stemming from an April 27 car crash that killed three local teens.
BY IAN C. STOREY
istorey@record-eagle.com
Record-Eagle/Tyler Sipe Justin Nguyen appears before Circuit Judge Philip E. Rodgers Jr. Friday afternoon at the Grand Traverse County Courthouse. Nguyen pleaded guilty to two charges stemming from an April 27 car crash that killed three local teens.
TRAVERSE CITY — A local teen faces prison time after accepting responsibility for a crash that killed three Traverse City students along a busy road.
Justin Jason Nguyen, 18, of Traverse City, on Friday pleaded guilty to one count of causing death without a license and a count of involuntary manslaughter, both 15-year felonies, before 13th Circuit Court Judge Philip Rodgers.
Nguyen was driving on South Airport Road April 27 when he lost control, sped across three lanes of traffic and crashed into a delivery truck.
Passengers Phougheune Siphengphet and Davy Koumliene, both 16, and Dath Keovongkoth, 17, all of Traverse City, were pronounced dead at the scene.
A female passenger, Bao Hang Nguyen, received minor injuries.
Justin Nguyen was charged with three felony counts of causing death while operating a car without a license; three misdemeanor counts of negligent
homicide; and one count of being a minor driving with alcohol in his system.
Nguyen responded quietly as Rodgers went through the elements of the crimes and asked questions about the crash as members of Nguyen's family and the victims' families watched.
"Prior (to the accident) you had consumed an intoxicating beverage and were weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed?" asked Rodgers.
"Yes," Nguyen said.
"You acknowledge your behavior was grossly negligent?" Rodgers said.
"Yes," Nguyen responded.
As part of the plea deal, Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider said Nguyen had to accept responsibility for all three deaths, although he pleaded guilty to two felony counts.
Attorney Jeffrey Slocombe refused to comment about the plea deal as he left the courtroom with members of Nguyen's family.
Nguyen will be sentenced on Aug. 4.
Justin Jason Nguyen, 18, of Traverse City, on Friday pleaded guilty to one count of causing death without a license and a count of involuntary manslaughter, both 15-year felonies, before 13th Circuit Court Judge Philip Rodgers.
Nguyen was driving on South Airport Road April 27 when he lost control, sped across three lanes of traffic and crashed into a delivery truck.
Passengers Phougheune Siphengphet and Davy Koumliene, both 16, and Dath Keovongkoth, 17, all of Traverse City, were pronounced dead at the scene.
A female passenger, Bao Hang Nguyen, received minor injuries.
Justin Nguyen was charged with three felony counts of causing death while operating a car without a license; three misdemeanor counts of negligent
homicide; and one count of being a minor driving with alcohol in his system.
Nguyen responded quietly as Rodgers went through the elements of the crimes and asked questions about the crash as members of Nguyen's family and the victims' families watched.
"Prior (to the accident) you had consumed an intoxicating beverage and were weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed?" asked Rodgers.
"Yes," Nguyen said.
"You acknowledge your behavior was grossly negligent?" Rodgers said.
"Yes," Nguyen responded.
As part of the plea deal, Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider said Nguyen had to accept responsibility for all three deaths, although he pleaded guilty to two felony counts.
Attorney Jeffrey Slocombe refused to comment about the plea deal as he left the courtroom with members of Nguyen's family.
Nguyen will be sentenced on Aug. 4.
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