Arizona Republic kirjoitti:http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoe ... a-brk.html
Phoenix news helicopters crash: Driver in police chase pleads guilty
by Michael Kiefer - Jul. 13, 2010 03:12 PM
The Arizona Republic
Christopher Jermaine Jones pleaded guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court Tuesday to 35 crimes stemming from a July 2007 police chase that led to the fatal crash of two television news helicopters.
The helicopter crash at Central Avenue and Indian School Road killed four airborne newsmen.
Jones, 26, was not charged in the deaths of the television crews, but he nonetheless faces decades in prison for no fewer than 11 aggravated assault charges and numerous charges of criminal damage and auto theft.
The case was supposed to go to trial this week. But Jones' attorney, Julie Rose, said that when it was apparent the state was not going to offer a plea deal, Jones decided to plead out to the charges against him.
"He's been wanting to do it all along," Rose said.
Jones' sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 10.
Jones told officers after his arrest in 2007 that he did not remember stealing two trucks, ramming a police cruiser and leading officers on a chase through central Phoenix.
Helicopters from Channel 3 (KTVK) and Channel 15 (KNXV) were providing live coverage of the chase when they collided above Steele Indian School Park. Pilot Scott Bowerbank and photographer Jim Cox of Channel 3 and pilot Craig Smith and photographer Rick Krolak of Channel 15 died in the accident.
