Attorney: Resolution close for man accused in fatal drunken driving crash
The man accused of hitting and killing Gary Lillie while driving drunk last year is expected to reach a resolution in his court case in two weeks.
Kevin Warren
Kevin Warren was in court for another final pretrial hearing Thursday afternoon. John Shea, his attorney, told Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge David Swartz negotiations continue for a resolution to the case before trial.
Warren is charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and leaving the scene of an accident causing death. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.
According to police, Warren hit Lillie with his Chevrolet Avalanche late on Aug. 4, 2011 on Marshall Road near Baker Road in Scio Township. Testimony given at a preliminary exam last year showed Warren’s vehicle was traveling between 34 and 42 miles per hour at the time of the incident.
During tapes played at the preliminary exam, Warren admitted to drinking before the collision. Blood tests showed Warren’s blood alcohol level was at 0.12 after the crash, well above Michigan’s legal limit of 0.08.
The court proceedings in the case have continued for more than a year, including having a trial date delayed three times. Dates have been set for April, July and earlier this month.
Shea requested two more weeks to finalize the resolution with Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Brenda Taylor. Warren will be back in court at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 1 for a final pretrial hearing.
Shea is involved in the Kwame Kilpatrick corruption trial in Detroit and asked Swartz to set a later time for the hearing instead of the typical 1:30 p.m. start for the trial court docket.
Warren is currently free on bond.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
brandon530021
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 2:28 p.m.
serch aa.com for "Bradley Howard nov 16 2011" 22 years for the same thing
Garry Owen
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 1:59 a.m.
There is no way he will get 22 years. 22 months will be more like it. And I would bet on that.
hmsp
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
An otherwise good man made a terrible mistake and will have to pay for it. He knows that. And his lawyer, who is also a good man (and hardly a big shooter!), knows that. But the Kilpatrick trial has been going on for years, and, like it or not, takes up a huge amount of time. Be patient, quit screaming for blood, and the justice system will indeed work in the end.
itmustbenice
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 9:53 p.m.
A terrible mistake is having an affair with a married woman ... this was a series of choices that lead to a good man dead on the side of the road. The only way Mr. Warren's name is even mentioned in the same sentence as Mr. Lillie is because of the choices he made that terrible night.
zip the cat
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 11:30 a.m.
Cmon people,wake up 22Yrs,Your dreaming,big time With all the delays do you really think he's going to trial He'll never see the inside of ANY prison. Hire a big shooter lawyer and get it delayed over and over and enter into negotiations,(over dinner and drinks probably) and guess what. He get off scott free with some probation and off the charts vehicle insurance for life. His family needs to sue him and his insurance company
brandon530021
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 2:24 p.m.
serch aa.com for "Bradley Howard nov 16 2011" 22 years for the same thing
zip the cat
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 11:36 a.m.
His family meaning gary lillie's family.
KK
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 11:21 a.m.
I pray that justice will be done. RIP Gary, your memory we will cherish, your lessons we will remember.
brandon530021
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 5:09 a.m.
The last man found guilty of this crime was sentenced to 22 and a half years. Let the system work because it dose.
brandon530021
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
that my friend is true. thankfully she is out of a job very soon.
justcurious
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 11:06 a.m.
...unless your judge happens to be Malinda Morris.
RJA
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 3:08 a.m.
Is this a joke? FREE on bond? It's time to get this DONE!
itmustbenice
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 5:07 a.m.
Shows you what money can buy.
Garry Owen
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 2 a.m.
Gary Lillie was one of the most active Vietnam Veteran in the area. He was always doing things to help other Veterans. He proudly served our country as a Navy Seabee in Vietnam. And to have this trial drag on like this is a real slap in his face and that of his family. Had Mr. Warren not left Gary alongside the road in his hit-and-run act, I could feel more compassion for him. Gary Lillie could have done so much for Veterans had he not been killed. Hopefully, the trial will be soon for all of us who loved Gary. It feels as we have been yo-yoed by the judicial system, that is being played like a violin by Mr. Warren's attorney.
swcornell
Sat, Oct 20, 2012 : 5:14 a.m.
So you are saying that because this was a well loved man that he is completely absolved of any responsibility in this accident? i.e. walking along a busy road that has no sidewalk, on the wrong side, after dark, dressed in dark clothes and not carrying a flash light. I think mistakes were made by both men! Let the justice system do it's thing.
itmustbenice
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 5:07 a.m.
I sure hope the prosecuter keeps this in mind while making the plea deal.
justcurious
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 12:05 a.m.
O.K., now I get it. Shea is representing Bernard Kilpatrick, Kwame's dad. Warren hired a big gun to get himself off easy.
justcurious
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 12:06 a.m.
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/investigations/Testimony-continues-on-Kwame-Kilpatrick-fund-money/-/1719314/17022484/-/aywddv/-/index.html
itmustbenice
Thu, Oct 18, 2012 : 11:30 p.m.
This is a joke. Delay after delay 15 months and still no trial? And he is just now making a deal? I feel for the Lillie family.
Chase Ingersoll
Thu, Oct 18, 2012 : 10:08 p.m.
I'm betting that because it was 11 pm at night there is a question as to whether or not the consumption and alcohol blood level can be proven as an aggravating factor.
brandon530021
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 4:36 a.m.
The last man found guilty of this crime was sentenced to 22 and a half years. Let the system work because it dose.
justcurious
Fri, Oct 19, 2012 : 12:03 a.m.
itmustbenice is absolutely right. This manand his lawyer are making a mockery of the justice system. Resolution my eye.
itmustbenice
Thu, Oct 18, 2012 : 11:35 p.m.
Are you saying that blood alcohol at 11pm is unreliable? Aggravating factor or not he choose to drink and drive his truck. He choose to keep driving once he hit Mr. Lillie ... and he gets to delay justice nearly a year and a half. Sad.