Pleas entered in 2011 bicyclist death
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A Lake Milton man entered guilty pleas Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to reduced charges in a 2011 crash that killed a bicyclist.
Nathan Skaggs, 21, entered guilty pleas before Judge Lou D’Apolito to misdemeanor charges of vehicular homicide and assault for the Nov. 17, 2011, death of 18-year-old Derek Martin.
Skaggs was indicted on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving under the influence of drugs in May of 2012. The driving under the influence of alcohol charge was dropped and the other two charges amended in exchange for his pleas.
Assistant Prosecutor Shawn Burns said that the plea was made because tests done found marijuana in Skaggs’ system but the tests could not reveal if Skaggs was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident.
Burns also said that an accident report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol said some of the blame may have been with Martin, who was riding his bicycle around dusk on the side of the road when he was hit from behind by a vehicle driven by Skaggs.
Other witnesses at the time had told police they almost hit Martin, Burns said.
Sentencing will be set after a presentence investigation is completed.
Burns said the plea was made after extensive negotiations with Jeffrey Kurz, Skaggs’ attorney, as well as input from Martin’s family. Judge D’Apolito said he wanted both families to be involved in the negotiations because the case will have a bearing on their families for years to come.
“It has continuous ripples,” Judge D’Apoloto said.
Burns said he is recommending a sentence of six months in the Mahoning County jail. Kurz asked for probation because his client has no criminal record.
Judge D’Apolito said he will have Skaggs drug tested before he makes his mind up about the sentence.