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Teen gets 4 years for fatal car accident

The Spring Hill teen pleads guilty to third-degree murder. He ran a red light, broadsiding a car driven by a 75-year-old man.

By JENNIFER LIBERTO
Published April 1, 2005

	[Times photo: Maurice Rivenbark]
	Richard T. Reynolds, 16, appears in court Thursday with attorney David Bauer. Reynolds had only a learner's permit when he took his parents' car without permission and killed a driver.

BROOKSVILLE - A teenager who ran a red traffic light and caused an accident that killed an man in September pleaded guilty to a third-degree murder charge Thursday morning at the Hernando County courthouse.

Richard T. Reynolds, 16, of 12351 Elmore Drive, Spring Hill, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and driving without a valid driver's license. However, Reynolds will receive a lighter sentence, because he will be adjudicated as a youthful offender, according to the plea deal worked out between attorneys and the two families involved.

Reynolds had only a learner's permit when he took his parents' Chrysler PT Cruiser - without their permission or supervision - a little after noon on Sept. 11, 2004. Reynolds drove through a red traffic light at Mariner and Landover boulevards, and the PT Cruiser broadsided a Buick Park Avenue driven by David E. Watts, 75. Watts died at the scene.

At the time of the accident, Watts was driving home after picking up supplies at Home Depot to patch the roof of his home in preparation for Hurricane Ivan. After the initial impact with Reynolds' car, Watts' Buick struck another car and a tree before it stopped in the eastbound shoulder of Landover Boulevard, according to Florida Highway Patrol records.

By pleading guilty, Reynolds agreed to four years in prison and two years of probation, a period during which he cannot drive and he must adhere to an 8 p.m. curfew. He also agreed to pay $14,000 in restitution to cover funeral costs as well as other fines and court costs to be determined.

As an adult, Reynolds could have been sentenced to as much as 20 years in prison.

"This has been a very difficult case for all parties involved," said Reynolds' attorney, David Bauer, during the court hearing on Thursday.

Two of Watts' daughters comforted their mother, who teared up as young, blond Reynolds, dressed in black, stood before the judge, trembling slightly.

"We're glad he's taking responsibility for his actions," said daughter Janet Sack in a brief telephone interview on Thursday afternoon. "That's what we saw in court today."

Reynolds, his family and his attorney declined to comment.

As part of the plea agreement, Reynolds also must complete 100 hours of community service, and he must make 15 speeches to Hernando County high schools and middle schools about the effects of the September accident on himself and others.

Reynolds will officially be sentenced on April 27.

Jennifer Liberto can be reached at 352 848-1434 or liberto@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 1, 2005, 12:01:43]