One of two Iowa City teens charged in a drag racing crash that killed a 22-year-old Waterloo woman in 2023 pleaded Monday to one charge of vehicular homicide.
Elijah Seals, 18, made an Alford plea to one count of homicide by vehicle-reckless driving, a Class C felony. He originally was charged with involuntary manslaughter and two other charges of homicide by vehicle-drag racing, homicide by vehicle-excessive speed by going 25 mph over the limit. An Alford plea is when defendant maintains innocence but admits the prosecution has enough evidence to convict.
Seals faces up to 10 years in prison.
However, 6th Judicial District Judge David Cox said during the hearing there was a plea agreement in this case where the sentence will be suspended and Seals sentenced to three years of probation.
Seals also will be ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the heirs or estate of Jennifer Russell, 22, who died as a result of the crash on May 27, 2023.
Cox said Seals will be jointly or severally responsible with Kesean Ford, who also is charged in the fatal crash, if Ford is convicted. Cox hasn’t accepted a plea yet that Ford attempted to make last week because the prosecution didn’t agree to it.
Seals also will have his driver’s license revoked, for at least a year, as a result of the conviction.
Many family members and friends of Russell attended the hearing, including her parents. Seals’ father also attended the hearing.
According to criminal complaint, Ford was driving a 2008 Saturn VUE and speeding on E. Court Street at 10:45 p.m. that night He was driving next to a white 2012 GMC Acadia being driven by Seals, who also was speeding.
The VUE crashed into a gray 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Russell, at the intersection of E. Court Street and S. Seventh Avenue. The Malibu then was pushed into the Acadia, and Russell was killed in the crash.
Both teens were driving more than 25 mph over the speed limit — which is 25 mph — and both failed to stop at a stop sign, resulting in the crash, the complaint stated.
Russell’s parents last year filed a wrongful-death lawsuit, which was dismissed without prejudice in February by a judge because of a technicality. The petition was served to Seals, a minor at the time, and not his parent or guardian, which the law requires.
Because the lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice, the Russells could refile it. There hasn’t been a new lawsuit filed yet.
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Elijah Seals, 18, made an Alford plea to one count of homicide by vehicle-reckless driving, a Class C felony. He originally was charged with involuntary manslaughter and two other charges of homicide by vehicle-drag racing, homicide by vehicle-excessive speed by going 25 mph over the limit. An Alford plea is when defendant maintains innocence but admits the prosecution has enough evidence to convict.
Seals faces up to 10 years in prison.
However, 6th Judicial District Judge David Cox said during the hearing there was a plea agreement in this case where the sentence will be suspended and Seals sentenced to three years of probation.
Seals also will be ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the heirs or estate of Jennifer Russell, 22, who died as a result of the crash on May 27, 2023.
Cox said Seals will be jointly or severally responsible with Kesean Ford, who also is charged in the fatal crash, if Ford is convicted. Cox hasn’t accepted a plea yet that Ford attempted to make last week because the prosecution didn’t agree to it.
Seals also will have his driver’s license revoked, for at least a year, as a result of the conviction.
Many family members and friends of Russell attended the hearing, including her parents. Seals’ father also attended the hearing.
According to criminal complaint, Ford was driving a 2008 Saturn VUE and speeding on E. Court Street at 10:45 p.m. that night He was driving next to a white 2012 GMC Acadia being driven by Seals, who also was speeding.
The VUE crashed into a gray 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Russell, at the intersection of E. Court Street and S. Seventh Avenue. The Malibu then was pushed into the Acadia, and Russell was killed in the crash.
Both teens were driving more than 25 mph over the speed limit — which is 25 mph — and both failed to stop at a stop sign, resulting in the crash, the complaint stated.
Russell’s parents last year filed a wrongful-death lawsuit, which was dismissed without prejudice in February by a judge because of a technicality. The petition was served to Seals, a minor at the time, and not his parent or guardian, which the law requires.
Because the lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice, the Russells could refile it. There hasn’t been a new lawsuit filed yet.
Iowa City teen pleads in fatal drag racing crash, faces probation
One of the Iowa City teens charged in fatal drag racing crash pleaded to homicide by vehicle - reckless driving. It’s a 10-year prison sentence but it will be suspended and he will serve probation, according to plea agreement.
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