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| Teen driver in deadly Maryland crash pleads guilty | Teen driver in deadly Maryland crash pleads guilty |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The teenage driver in an alcohol-related crash in Maryland that killed two recent graduates of Wootton High School pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of vehicular manslaughter during a proceeding in which prosecutors said the car went airborne for more than 100 feet. | The teenage driver in an alcohol-related crash in Maryland that killed two recent graduates of Wootton High School pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of vehicular manslaughter during a proceeding in which prosecutors said the car went airborne for more than 100 feet. |
| Samuel Ellis, 19, once Wootton’s star quarterback, was scheduled to face a trial starting Monday morning in the June crash, which claimed the lives of Calvin Li and Alex Murk, both 18 years old and members of Wootton’s class of 2015. | Samuel Ellis, 19, once Wootton’s star quarterback, was scheduled to face a trial starting Monday morning in the June crash, which claimed the lives of Calvin Li and Alex Murk, both 18 years old and members of Wootton’s class of 2015. |
| The wreck in North Potomac followed a teen drinking party at a home where underage students drank beer and vodka, according to police. The teenage host’s father was in the house, police said. | The wreck in North Potomac followed a teen drinking party at a home where underage students drank beer and vodka, according to police. The teenage host’s father was in the house, police said. |
| [‘We felt invincible’: Report details deadly wreck, party that preceded it] | [‘We felt invincible’: Report details deadly wreck, party that preceded it] |
| “This holds Mr. Ellis accountable for the deaths of his friends,” said Ramon Korionoff, spokesman for the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s office. | “This holds Mr. Ellis accountable for the deaths of his friends,” said Ramon Korionoff, spokesman for the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s office. |
| The plea agreement comes as a major turning point in a case that has left the Wootton community reeling for most of a year and sparked an effort to crack down on adults who permit teen drinking parties. A bill advancing in Annapolis would increase penalties, including jail time, for adults who host such parties. The bill must receive final approval before the legislature adjourns on Monday. | |
| Ellis faces up to 20 years when he is sentenced on June 3. Maryland sentencing guidelines, which are not binding, call for a punishment of 3 months to 8 years. | Ellis faces up to 20 years when he is sentenced on June 3. Maryland sentencing guidelines, which are not binding, call for a punishment of 3 months to 8 years. |
| The plea agreement was reached Friday morning, about two hours before Ellis appeared in court in front of Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Robert Greenberg. | The plea agreement was reached Friday morning, about two hours before Ellis appeared in court in front of Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Robert Greenberg. |
| [Md. panel votes to stiffen penalties for underage drinking parties] | [Md. panel votes to stiffen penalties for underage drinking parties] |
| Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Anderson spoke in court, describing the crash. | Assistant State’s Attorney Mark Anderson spoke in court, describing the crash. |
| “Mr. Ellis was driving his vehicle at an absolute bare-bones minimum of 65 miles an hour on Dufief Mill [Road] where it’s a 35 mile an hour speed limit,” Anderson said. “He lost control, went into a culvert, and his car went airborne. It traveled about 110 feet in the air, approximately, struck two trees, which ripped the vehicle apart. It landed on its hood and slid to a stop in a driveway.” | “Mr. Ellis was driving his vehicle at an absolute bare-bones minimum of 65 miles an hour on Dufief Mill [Road] where it’s a 35 mile an hour speed limit,” Anderson said. “He lost control, went into a culvert, and his car went airborne. It traveled about 110 feet in the air, approximately, struck two trees, which ripped the vehicle apart. It landed on its hood and slid to a stop in a driveway.” |
| Anderson said that after the crash, Ellis’s blood was tested for alcohol. The first test came back at 0.09. A test an hour later showed 0.07. In Maryland, a driver can be convicted of driving of driving under the influence of alcohol at 0.08 or higher. | Anderson said that after the crash, Ellis’s blood was tested for alcohol. The first test came back at 0.09. A test an hour later showed 0.07. In Maryland, a driver can be convicted of driving of driving under the influence of alcohol at 0.08 or higher. |
| Anderson said that based on alcohol and speed, Ellis was driving in a “grossly negligent” way. | Anderson said that based on alcohol and speed, Ellis was driving in a “grossly negligent” way. |
| Ellis’s attorney, McAuliffe, accepted Anderson’s account, other than saying that a crash reconstruction expert he retained calculated a different speed – 50 to 56 mph. But McAuliffe said that had no bearing on his client’s guilt. | Ellis’s attorney, McAuliffe, accepted Anderson’s account, other than saying that a crash reconstruction expert he retained calculated a different speed – 50 to 56 mph. But McAuliffe said that had no bearing on his client’s guilt. |
| The Murk family was in the courtroom Friday and left the courthouse shortly after the proceeding. | The Murk family was in the courtroom Friday and left the courthouse shortly after the proceeding. |
| Ellis’s attorney, Michael McAuliffe, said his client accepts blame for what happened. | Ellis’s attorney, Michael McAuliffe, said his client accepts blame for what happened. |
| “Sam absolutely insists on taking responsibility,” McAuliffe said. | “Sam absolutely insists on taking responsibility,” McAuliffe said. |
| Prosecutors did not provide details about the length of sentence they would recommend in June. “We certainly will ask for some jail time,” Korionoff told reporters after the proceeding. | Prosecutors did not provide details about the length of sentence they would recommend in June. “We certainly will ask for some jail time,” Korionoff told reporters after the proceeding. |
| The Wootton case has focused sharp attention on teen drinking parties and a parent culture that appears to condone them. | The Wootton case has focused sharp attention on teen drinking parties and a parent culture that appears to condone them. |
| [‘This must stop’: Principal implores parents not to host teen drinking parties] | [‘This must stop’: Principal implores parents not to host teen drinking parties] |
| Kenneth Saltzman, father of the teenager that hosted the party preceding the Wootton crash, pleaded guilty to two criminal citations for allowing underage drinking at his North Potomac home and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, the maximum. | Kenneth Saltzman, father of the teenager that hosted the party preceding the Wootton crash, pleaded guilty to two criminal citations for allowing underage drinking at his North Potomac home and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, the maximum. |
| Ovetta Wiggins contributed to this report. |