Teenage driver accused of DUI manslaughter pleads not guilty

Kori Lane, far left, awaits her arraignment Tuesday in Marshall County Circuit Court.

The Paducah teenager accused of second-degree manslaughter in the death of a Marshall County girl entered a not-guilty plea Tuesday in Marshall County Circuit Court.

Kori E. Lane, 19, of Paducah, officially entered the plea and requested bond during a Tuesday, Dec. 12 hearing before Judge Jamie Jameson at the Marshall County Judicial Center in Benton. Lane, who was indicted in the May 20 DUI death of 16-year-old Sierria D. Jones on Griggstown Road, appeared with attorney Don Thomas in her first hearing since District Judge Jack Telle approved a May 31 motion allowing Lane to participate in the Pretrial Substance Abuse Program. Thomas said Lane had completed that program and then some since her incarcaration, having completed practical parenting, money sense, anger management and grief counseling programs in the months since her arrest.

“While also in PSAP, she became a mentor for young individuals who came into the program after she had been there to help them with some life skills that she has learned while she was in there,” Thomas said. “She’s a very young lady who was in a very tragic situation.”

Thomas said he’d been working closely with Commonwealth Attorney Mark Blankenship’s office in the case to arrive at a suitable arrangement and that involved parties did not intend the matter to go to trial. Among the defense’s proposed bond conditions included Lane participate in monitored conditional release, be prohibited from operating a motor vehicle throughout the duration of court proceedings, submit to random drug and alcohol screens, maintain after care treatment services — specifically the Celebrate Recovery program and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. In addition, Lane must comply with the state on any and all court proceedings for those charged in connection to the incident, including appearing as a witness to testify in hearings or trial of those implicated.

Benjamin “Buddy” Pierce, 25, of Calvert City, was charged in September in connection to the incident, according to Assistant County Attorney Jason Darnall. Darnall said investigators believe Pierce purchased and provided the alcohol to both Lane and Jones that they allegedly consumed on the night of Jones’ death. Pierce faces third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor charges, a Class A misdemeanor; Darnall said attorneys are awaiting the results of an evidentiary hearing in the case, though the county does not intend to offer any sort of plea deal.

The Commonwealth had no objection to the motion, with the additional condition that Lane remain on home incarceration with the exception of work, church attendance and substance treatment requirements. Jameson approved the terms of the bond with the additional condition that Lane must also have an alcohol monitor in place prior to her release.

Jameson set bond at $70,000, with 10 percent paid at the time of release.

“It’s hard to argue it’s not a reasonable bond given the circumstances, especially since she completed the treatment,” Jameson said. “But you’re going to be on a short leash. It’s a lot of responsibility for somebody as young as you. You need to know, you can easily end up right back where you are.”

Lane was indicted in June on second-degree manslaughter charges for her alleged role in Jones’ death. According to Marshall County Sheriff’s Office reports, about 12:10 a.m. Saturday, May 20 responders were dispatched to a single-car crash at the intersection of Griggstown and Salyer Creek roads in Marshall County. Police say Lane was speeding and driving recklessly when the vehicle she was driving dropped off the shoulder and began to bounce. Sheriff Kevin Byars said Lane was unable to regain control of the car.

“From what they described to me, it looked like she ran off the road and tried to recover, got to bouncing and then when it hit Salyer Creek Road it just kind of launched it from that point,” Byars said in a previous interview.

The vehicle struck a tree, killing Jones. Investigation revealed that both Lane and Jones had allegedly been drinking.
Lane was initially charged with murder and jailed on a $500,000 bond. Charges were amended to second-degree manslaughter after results of a blood alcohol level screen for Lane reportedly came back at .06, under the legal limit for an adult driver to be considered impaired in Kentucky. Drivers younger than 21 are considered over the limit above .02 BAC, however County Attorney Jeff Edwards said Lane’s BAC did not justify a murder charge.

Lane is scheduled to appear again March 29 for a status hearing.