Man who pleaded responsible to inflicting deaths of Mo. officer, Ok-9, pedestrian sentenced to 10 years in jail

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By Robert A. Cronkleton
The Kansas Metropolis Star

JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. — A Jackson County choose sentenced a 20-year-old Tonganoxie man to 10 years in jail for inflicting a crash that killed two folks, together with a Kansas Metropolis police officer.

Jerron A. Lightfoot pleaded responsible in February to 2 counts of involuntary manslaughter for recklessly inflicting the deaths of Officer James Muhlbauer and Jesse Eckes, a 52-year-old bystander caught within the wreckage. Muhlbauer’s Ok-9 police canine, Champ, was additionally killed within the crash.

Throughout a listening to Wednesday, Choose Sarah A. Fort sentenced Lightfoot to 10 years on every depend, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Below phrases of the plea settlement, prosecutors had agreed to cap their suggestions at 10 years in jail for every of the 2 felony convictions to be served concurrently.

Lightfoot’s lawyer, Lance Sandage, requested the choose to think about a suspended sentence, which might have partially or solely suspended the jail sentence so long as Lightfoot met all circumstances of probation. As a part of the circumstances of probation, Sandage requested the choose to think about limiting his jailtime to a brief interval, often known as shock time.

Upon studying his sentence, Lightfoot was handcuffed and led out of the Jackson County courtroom.

In a written assertion handed out to media following the listening to, Sandage stated that Lightfoot took one other step in accepting duty for his motion.

“Mr. Lightfoot by no means meant to hurt anybody however understands his reckless driving brought about the dying of Officer James M. Mulhbauer, Mr. Jesse Eckes, and officer Muhlbauer’s service canine, Champ,” Sandage stated. “Mr. Lightfoot hopes at the moment’s request for forgiveness can start the therapeutic means of all these impacted by his actions.”

Exterior the courtroom after the listening to, Muhlbauer’s widow, Cassie Muhlbauer stated that they had been very happy with the end result and that they’ll “proceed to reside day-to-day and see the place the subsequent chapter takes us.”

“I felt like he ought to have positively taken duty,” Cassie Muhlbauer advised reporters. “And at the moment, I don’t assume I can forgive him, however possibly in time.”

Video reveals violent crash

The crash occurred about 10:15 p.m. Feb. 15, 2023, whereas Muhlbauer was on patrol with Champ alongside Truman Highway.

Authorities say Lightfoot barreled down Benton Boulevard in a white Ford Fusion, failing to cease for the crimson mild. Lightfoot hit Muhlbauer’s automotive on the driving force’s facet, inflicting it to careen into Eckes, who was sitting on a concrete barrier.

The influence killed Muhlbauer, a celebrated officer, husband and father of three with 20 years of expertise in regulation enforcement, and Champ. Eckes died after being pinned beneath the automobile.

Lightfoot remained on the scene of the crash and advised officers the explanation for the crash was a malfunction of his brakes, in keeping with a police affidavit.

Prosecutors charged Lightfoot the day after the crash, which got here hours after the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ victory celebration over the Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LVII.

Kansas Metropolis Police Officer Karl Janning testified on the listening to that an airbag sensor confirmed that Lightfoot was accelerating moments earlier than the crash. The sensor confirmed that he was touring 84.9 mph 5 seconds earlier than the crash and 89.7 mph two seconds earlier than the crash.

At influence, Lightfoot’s automotive was touring 62.3 mph, which Janning indicated that Lightfoot had used his brakes. There have been additionally pre-impact tire marks indicating braking.

Prosecutors performed surveillance video from a close-by enterprise that had captured the crash. When the video confirmed the second of influence, there was a hushed gasp within the courtroom. Members of Muhlbauer’s family wiped away tears with tissues.

Family and friends of Muhlbauer, cops in uniform and household and pals of Lightfoot crammed the downtown Kansas Metropolis courtroom for the sentencing Wednesday.

‘By no means meant to harm anybody’

Through the listening to, Lightfoot advised Choose Fort that he was really sorry for his actions and that he “by no means meant to harm anybody.”

Lightfoot stated he thinks concerning the crash day-after-day. He stated he takes full duty. He stated he knew it was rather a lot to ask, however he hoped that the victims households sooner or later would forgive him.

Eckes’ sister, Mandi Dunbar , advised the choose that she didn’t know a lot of her brother’s life after shedding contact with him. She stated he had been homeless, and earlier than his dying had not too long ago acquired a house.

Eckes had a giant coronary heart and was very giving, she stated. Whereas homeless, he despatched cash to a niece to assist her purchase diapers.

Dunbar argued in opposition to sentencing Lightfoot to jail, saying she didn’t consider in destroying one other life. She stated jail wouldn’t deliver justice and it definitely wouldn’t deliver the victims again.

Muhlbauer’s household and pals, nevertheless, requested the choose to impose the utmost sentence, saying Muhlbauer, 42, was a celebrated officer, husband and father of three with 20 years of expertise in regulation enforcement.

Muhlbauer’s father, Vern Muhlbauer, recalled how he would finish telephone calls together with his son, telling him, “Be secure on the market.”

Vern Muhlbauer stated the crash was not an accident.

Assistant Prosecuting Lawyer Lauren Whiston addressed Lightfoot’s historical past with careless driving, together with a ticket in 2021 for driving 87 mph in a 65 mph zone. He entered right into a diversion settlement and the case was dismissed.

The violent deaths of Muhlbauer and Eckes had been due to selections that Lightfoot made, Whiston stated, and never some accident that simply occurred to happen.

In a press release launched after the sentencing, Kansas Metropolis Police Chief Stacey Graves stated, “The Kansas Metropolis Missouri Police Division and I’ll proceed to be there and assist the Muhlbauer household as they navigate this tragedy.”

Graves additionally thanked Jackson County prosecutors and site visitors division detectives and investigators for his or her work, saying the police charged with investigating the case “had the unenviable activity of investigating the dying of their good friend and co-worker, his Ok-9 associate, and the harmless bystander who all misplaced their lives on this mindless tragedy.”

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©2024 The Kansas Metropolis Star. Go to kansascity.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content material Company, LLC.

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