Breaking News for Culpeper and Warrenton Accident Victims

Prosecutors Want Teen Tried as Adult in DWI Crash

Posted on Apr 27, 2008

Prosecutors in Loudoun County want to press adult charges against a 17-year-old Fairfax County girl charged in a drunken-driving crash that killed a 59-year-old woman.

The teen is charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter in the death of Kathleen Becker, who was killed September 20th when her vehicle and the teen's collided on a two-lane stretch of Route 15, near Leesburg.

Prosecutors are appealing a November ruling that the girl be tried as a juvenile. They told a Loudoun judge on Thursday that the girl engaged in "binge drinking" and should be tried as an adult. Her defense attorney argued that the case should remain in juvenile court because she is immature, has no criminal record and has demonstrated remorse.

If tried and convicted as an adult, she faces between one and 20 years in prison.