Sentenced for role in teen’s death
Charles Lester Cole III, 23, standing with his arms crossed, listens to attorney Chris Blackwell after Cole’s sentencing Monday before Washington County Judge Gary Gilman. Gilman sentenced Cole to 45 days in jail and the remainder of his 23-month sentence on probation.
Sierra Minor
A Claysville man will spend 45 days in jail followed by 21 1/2 months probation for his role in a July 2013 crash that killed a 16-year-old girl in Independence Township.
Washington County Judge Gary Gilman imposed the sentence Monday afternoon on Charles Lester Cole III, 23, of 783 Old National Pike, after the proceeding marked by emotional statements from the victim’s mother and friends and an apology from Cole.
“My heart has never known such emptiness,” Jamey West, Sierra Minor’s mother, told the court as she struggled to hold back tears. “Holidays and birthdays will never be the same.”
Cole pleaded guilty last October to corruption of minors, reckless endangerment and furnishing alcohol to minors. Minor, who lived in Morris Township, was pronounced dead at the scene after the car she was driving, which belonged to Cole, crashed into a tree along Brush Run Road about a mile from the West Virginia state line just before midnight July 30, 2013. Three of Minor’s passengers were injured. No one was wearing a seat belt. Minor’s blood-alcohol content was 0.20 percent, and she had marijuana in her system, according to court documents. The group traveled into West Virginia to an area known as German Beer Garden in Brooke County, W.Va. Cole reportedly purchased alcohol at a Washington six-pack shop before the group headed to West Virginia.
Elizabeth Sullivan who knew Sierra from the time the teenager was born, said the two had a bond that was two-fold – “mother and child and best friends.”
“I fed her, changed her diapers and thought of her as my baby,” Sullivan said, choking back tears. “She was my Bubby.”
Sullivan said she will never forget the day she was awakened to learn Minor died.
“I remember the dark morning …” Sullivan said. “I screamed, and the world went dark.”
Sullivan and West asked Gilman to hold Cole responsible for his actions.
“Mr. Cole made a fateful decision to let Sierra drive his car,” Sullivan said. “She was too young to make the decision.”
West said, “Make the right decision so another soul won’t have to go through this also.”
Cole apologized to Minor’s family.
“I am sorry for what happened,” Cole said. “I was the oldest there. I should have made smarter decisions.”
Cole said his two children, ages 3 and 1, “keep me on my feet.”
Gilman said he didn’t believe Cole acted with malice, but the defendant was the authority figure in the situation.
“The law says somebody in his position has to be responsible for the consequences of what happened,” Gilman said. “I do think the most reasonable sentence is a period of incarceration.”
Gilman gave Cole two weeks to report to jail, setting a Feb. 8 date. The judge also permitted Cole to be on work release so he can help support his children.
Gilman also mandated Cole speak about the experience to students at both Washington and Trinity high schools. Cole also was ordered to pay Minor’s funeral expenses.