Adams Pleads Guilty to Reckless Homicide

Bluffs, Illinois resident John Adams has pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in the death of Brianne Martin of Effingham.

Adams entered an open plea Tuesday morning before Judge Kimberly Koester, meaning the judge will have a full range of options when sentencing occurs on June 9.

Reckless homicide is a new count and was filed by prosecutors due to what Assistant State's Attorney Scott Ealy termed "the ethical way to approach this." Ealy said the forensic findings in the case indicated that the cocaine metabolite found in Adams' urine after the crash that resulted in Martin's death would not have been affecting Adams' judgment at the time of the crash since they had passed through his system.

Ealy said he and State's Attorney Bryan Kibler reviewed the case and decided that it was Adams' recklessness that led to Martin's death, not the presence of the metabolite, so filed the new charge. Public Defender Scott Schmidt and Adams agreed to plead guilty to the new count, and Ealy said Martin's family, who were present for the hearing, also concurred with the decision on the charges.

Adams could receive from two to five years in prison on the reckless homicide count, but probation is an option.

The recklessness alleged by prosecutors involved witnesses' statements that Adams made a "fast and hard" turn off northbound I-57 north of Effingham last October 17 and into a median turnaround. A portion of the semi trailer was still on the roadway and was struck by Martin's car, leading to her death.