GALESBURG —A Gilson man accused of reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence of drugs and possession of liquor by a minor was granted a 402 D conference with Judge Paul Mangieri at a plea hearing Wednesday in Knox County Circuit Court.
The charges against Jose A. Beltran Jr., 21, of aggravated driving and reckless homicide are Class 2 and 3 felonies, respectively, while the secondary charges of possession of liquor and driving under the influence are Class A misdemeanors. Beltran’s attorney, David Reid Clark, filed for the conference at the beginning of the hearing and Assistant State’s attorney Dave Hansen consented to the request.
On an April 2011 evening, Beltran consumed four or five beers before driving to pick up his friend, Brandon K. Melton, of Knoxville, at his home. After what was described as a “joy ride” along country roads, Beltran crashed his Chevy Cobalt into a Gilson utility pole at what was said by police to be a “high rate of speed.” Melton sustained a severe skull fracture and bleeding into his brain and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A breath test indicated Beltran’s blood alcohol level was 0.113 ….MORE
