Oct 30, 2015 3 min read

A Claysville man pleaded guilty to his role in a July 2013 crash that killed a 16-year-old girl in Independence Township.

Charles Lester Cole III, 23, of 783 Old National Pike, pleaded guilty Oct. 16 before Washington County Judge Gary Gilman to corruption of minors, reckless endangerment and furnishing alcohol to minors. Cole also faced involuntary manslaughter, but the charge was withdrawn. All of the charges were misdemeanors.

Cole entered into an open plea agreement, which leaves his sentence to the discretion of the judge.

Sierra Minor of Morris Township was pronounced dead at the scene after the car she was driving, which belonged to Cole, crashed into a tree along Brush Run Road about a mile from the West Virginia state line just before midnight July 30, 2013. Three of Minor’s passengers were injured. No one in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt, police said.

Minor was driving east when she lost control of the car on a sharp left curve. The car went off the road, struck a tree and flipped once before landing on its wheels next to the tree. State police estimated she was driving 50 to 60 mph before reaching the curve. She was pronounced dead at the scene of multiple injuries. Washington County Coroner Tim Warco ruled her death an accident.

Occupants of the car included Minor, Cole, Minor’s cousin, Rashaia Day, and friend Melinda Paul, who were both 15 at the time, along with then 18-year-old Cody Jenkins. Day sat on Jenkins’ lap in the front seat, while Cole and Paul were in the back seat.

Trooper Thomas Schuster, in court documents filed at the office of District Judge Ethan Ward, indicated the five traveled across the state line into West Virginia to an area known as the German Beer Garden in Brooke County, W.Va. Cole reportedly purchased alcohol at a Washington six-pack shop before the group headed for West Virginia.

The group reportedly stayed there for several hours, where they drank and swam. They decided to return home about 10:30 p.m. Minor, according to the affidavit of probable cause, reportedly asked Cole if she could drive his vehicle on the return trip. There also was allegedly a discussion about her being too intoxicated to drive. Cole allowed her to drive, according to court documents.

Schuster said Minor’s blood-alcohol content was 0.20 percent, and she had marijuana in her system.

Chris Blackwell, Cole’s attorney, said he plans to ask the judge for a probationary sentence.

“I don’t think a state sentence is appropriate,” he said.

Assistant District Attorney Jerry Moschetta said Cole’s standard sentence falls between probation and jail time. Moschetta said the plea was structured on the evidence.

Cole’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25. He remains free on $25,000 unsecured bond.