COLUMBIANA COUNTY Guilty in death of drunken driver

The defendant's sister and brother-in-law agreed to testify against him.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- The prosecution of three adults on involuntary manslaughter charges in a teen's drunken-driving death should send a stern message, authorities say.
"If you're going to supply alcohol to minors, you bear responsibility for the bad things that can happen," Tammie Riley Jones, assistant Columbiana County prosecutor, said Tuesday.
Three county residents learned that lesson firsthand this week in what prosecutors said is a rare instance of bringing serious charges against those accused of aiding in underage drinking.
Joseph McCallister, 22, of Salem Township, pleaded guilty Tuesday in county common pleas court to involuntary manslaughter, a third-degree felony, in the March 1, 2002, traffic death of Lisa Groner. He'll be sentenced later.
Authorities say McCallister gave alcohol to Lisa, 16, of Leetonia, and four other people age 17-20 at a party.
Lisa was killed after leaving the party while driving drunk. Her blood-alcohol level was 0.14. The legal driving limit is 0.10.
In exchange for McCallister's guilty pleas to involuntary manslaughter and to five first-degree misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to minors, prosecutors agreed to recommend a one-year sentence on the involuntary manslaughter charge.
Maximum penalty for the offense is five years in prison.
The maximum for each of the misdemeanors is six months, but any sentence for those offenses would be served at the same time as the felony.
What he admitted
After pleading guilty, McCallister admitted providing the alcohol to the underage drinkers at the party.
"I didn't mean for things to get out of control," he said. "I didn't mean for a girl to lose her life. I'm sorry."
McCallister's guilty plea came a few hours before he was to go on trial before Judge C. Ashley Pike.
McCallister's sister, Wanita Bolton, 30, and her husband, Travis Bolton, 31, both of Hanoverton, also were charged with involuntary manslaughter in Lisa's death. The Boltons allowed Groner and the other underage people to consume alcohol at their home, authorities said.
The Boltons avoided prosecution on the involuntary manslaughter charge by pleading guilty Monday to five first-degree misdemeanor offenses for allowing the underage drinking. They also promised to testify against McCallister.
Prosecutors are recommending the maximum six-month sentence for each of the five counts. The judge could allow the sentences to be served at the same time.
Judge Pike set a July 18 sentencing for McCallister and the Boltons. All three remain free on bond.