Truck driver pleads guilty to 2008 Pell City officer fatality
Published 5:37 pm Wednesday, July 7, 2010
James Michael Scogins pleaded guilty after changing his original plea on Wednesday. Scogins, who was originally charged with the manslaughter of Officer Kenneth “Greg” Surles and pleaded “not guilty,” changed his plea to “guilty” of vehicular homicide on Wednesday. He will serve a maximum of five years and must serve at least a year and a day.
A woman in the audience muttered, “That’s not right,” when the information about the accident was read but was allowed to remain in the courtroom after a lawyer spoke with her.
Circuit Judge Jim Hill said he will allow Scogins to go to a doctor’s appointment Friday in Birmingham, and he will be allowed to take his medication while he is in jail. Scogins was then handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom.
Families of both men were present and tearful during the plea hearing.
Surles, a Pell City police officer, died due to injuries from a June 18, 2008 wreck. Surles’ car was T-boned by Scogins’ 18-wheeler when Surles went through the intersection of U.S. 231 and Cropwell Drive/Kings Circle.ded guilty after changing his original plea on Wednesday. Scogins, who was originally charged with the manslaughter of Officer Kenneth “Greg” Surles and pleaded “not guilty,” changed his plea to “guilty” of vehicular homicide on Wednesday. He will serve a maximum of five years and must serve at least a year and a day.
A woman in the audience muttered, “That’s not right,” when the information about the accident was read but was allowed to remain in the courtroom after a lawyer spoke with her.
Circuit Judge Jim Hill said he will allow Scogins to go to a doctor’s appointment Friday in Birmingham, and he will be allowed to take his medication while he is in jail. Scogins was then handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom.
Families of both men were present and tearful during the plea hearing.
Surles, a Pell City police officer, died due to injuries from a June 18, 2008 wreck. Surles’ car was T-boned by Scogins’ 18-wheeler when Surles went through the intersection of U.S. 231 and Cropwell Drive/Kings Circle.
