Wilda Annie Manning. Photo from BIA Ft. Duchesne Police Department / Facebook
Wilda Annie Manning, a member of the Ute Tribe, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison in connection with a death on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation in Utah. Manning, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter. She admitted she was distracted by her cell phone when she rear-ended a street cleaning vehicle that was carrying Steven Chet Goodrich, 25, causing his death. "On June 3, 2015, I used a wireless telephone that was capable of sending and receiving text messages and of making phone calls, while I was driving my car on a highway located within the Tribal Tract of land that is designated as Indian Country. I admit that my actions were criminally negligent," Manning said in a statement. Manning was indicted in January on two involuntary manslaughter charges. A second count in connection with the alleged use of a "controlled substance" was dismissed as part of her plea. Manning was ordered to surrender on September 29 to start her sentence, according to court records. Read More on the Story:
Ute Tribe member sentenced to prison for using cellphone prior to fatal crash (The Salt Lake Tribune 8/15)
Ute tribal member admits to using cellphone in crash that killed street sweeper (The Deseret News 6/15)
Ute Tribe member pleads guilty to using cell phone prior to fatal crash (The Salt Lake Tribune 6/14)
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