最新杏吧原创

ST. LOUIS 鈥� 最新杏吧原创 Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore said Friday the conviction of a 22-year-old man this week for causing a crash that severed a teen girl鈥檚 legs sent a message that his office would aggressively prosecute 鈥渋ncredibly reckless conduct鈥� that endangers the public.

鈥淲e just can鈥檛 live in a community where people are driving 4,000-pound automobiles recklessly in city centers,鈥� he said.

Gore鈥檚 statements came one day after a 最新杏吧原创 jury convicted 22-year-old Daniel Riley of two felonies and two misdemeanors for driving dangerously downtown on Feb. 18, 2023 and causing a crash that pinned 17-year-old Janae Edmondson between two cars and severed her legs.

Gore lauded the work of prosecutors Tanja Engelhardt and Adam Field in proving each element of the charges at trial this week. He also said he was impressed by the resilience of Janae and her parents, all of whom testified during the guilt phase of the trial and again before the jury鈥檚 punishment recommendation.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just really very inspiring to see,鈥� Gore said.

During the four-day trial, prosecutors argued that Riley had fentanyl, THC and codeine in his blood when he pulled out from a parking space on St. Charles Street downtown in an Audi SUV, accelerated from 5 to 45 mph in a matter of seconds, violated a yield sign and collided with a Chevrolet Malibu that was traveling north on 11th Street.

The Audi went airborne and pinned Edmondson against a parked car. Both of her legs were amputated as a result.

The case and its aftermath jump-started an effort to remove former 最新杏吧原创 Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner from office after it was revealed that Riley was out on bond for a previous robbery case despite violating the conditions of his bond dozens of times. Gardner eventually resigned, and Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, appointed Gore.

The trial this week generated extensive media coverage and public attention. At one point, Riley鈥檚 attorney, Dan Diemer, asked to move the case out of 最新杏吧原创 because he feared his client could not get a fair shake.

Judge Michael Noble denied that request, but when jury selection proceeded on March 1, jurors filled out a questionnaire about their knowledge of the case to weed out those who had already made up their minds.

A jury was selected Monday and the trial continued with testimony from Edmondson鈥檚 father, James Edmondson, who tied a belt around his daughter鈥檚 leg as a tourniquet 鈥� a move that saved her life.

Janae Edmondson and her mother, Francine Edmondson, testified on the final day of trial about the moments immediately following the crash and Janae鈥檚 long recovery.

鈥淭he first thing she said to me (in the hospital) is, 鈥楳ama, I鈥檒l never be able to play volleyball or walk again,鈥欌�� Francine Edmondson said.

Riley鈥檚 attorney, Dan Diemer, argued that police rushed to judgment in arresting Riley despite evidence suggesting the driver of the Malibu may have been at fault.

It took jurors roughly three hours to convict Riley on all but one charge of misdemeanor of assault.

The trial then proceeded into the penalty phase, where jurors considered whether to recommend the maximum penalty of up to 23 years in prison. They ultimately recommended he be sentenced to up to 18 years and nine months in prison.

Judge Noble is set to sentence Riley in April.