Salt Lake City, UT – 28 November 2016 – A repo man charged with manslaughter in the death of a Pleasant Grove woman pleaded guilty to his crime Monday morning.
Kenneth Drew pleaded guilty before Judge Thomas Low in American Fork’s Fourth District Court to one second-degree felony of manslaughter in the death of Ashleigh Best.
But before Monday’s hearing began, it seemed there was a misunderstanding about the plea agreement.
“We were getting ready to set a trial, but at the last minute, Mr. Best and Ashleigh’s mother had a discussion and decided it was best to do what they could to make this resolve,” said Jared Perkins with the Utah County Attorney’s Office. “They made I think a very generous agreement to suspend recommending what they would like to see happen, which is prison.”
In the plea agreement, the prosecution has recommended Drew, 49, serve 60 months of probation. After the probation, his charge will be reduced from a second-degree felony to a class A misdemeanor.
Drew will likely serve a year in jail, though that condition has yet to be set.
The terms of his sentence will be determined in his next hearing on Jan. 10. Low has the ability to deviate from the sentencing recommendations should he deem it prudent.
“In his interview with police, Mr. Drew admitted as much; no vehicle is worth a life,” Perkins said.
According to police reports, at about midnight on May 17, Drew was at the Pleasant Grove home of Best, 35, who had fallen behind on title loan payments. He was there to repossess her vehicle.
Police reports state Best soon got into her SUV and drove off, following her husband’s instruction.
Drew will likely serve a year in jail, though that condition has yet to be set.
The terms of his sentence will be determined in his next hearing on Jan. 10. Low has the ability to deviate from the sentencing recommendations should he deem it prudent.
“In his interview with police, Mr. Drew admitted as much; no vehicle is worth a life,” Perkins said.
According to police reports, at about midnight on May 17, Drew was at the Pleasant Grove home of Best, 35, who had fallen behind on title loan payments. He was there to repossess her vehicle.
Police reports state Best soon got into her SUV and drove off, following her husband’s instruction.
Police say Drew then angrily drove after her in his tow truck with his girlfriend in the passenger’s seat. Drew reportedly pursued Best through a Pleasant Grove neighborhood, exceeding speeds of 70 mph, hitting and grinding against her car and damaging her vehicle.
At some point in the chase, Best’s vehicle jumped a curb and smashed into a tree. She died soon after.
According to police, it is illegal for repo agents to use force to reclaim vehicles.
Source: Daily Herald
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