Published: May 13, 2008 03:49 pm            

Bertram sentenced to 10 years in prison

Monticello — A Wayne County woman who entered a guilty plea to second degree

manslaughter last month has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Emma

Bertram appeared in Wayne Circuit Court on Tuesday, May 6 for formal

sentencing.

Commonwealth's Attorney Matthew Leveridge had recommended a 10-year

sentence on the manslaughter charge, which was amended from a charge of

murder. Bertram was indicted for murder in 2005, shortly after a two-vehicle

accident claimed the life of Eric Adkins.

According to police, Bertram was traveling south on KY 1275 in a

Chevrolet truck on May 10, 2005, when she collided with a car driven by

Adkins, of Monticello. Adkins died of multiple injuries, including blunt

force trauma to the left side of his chest, according to the Wayne County

Coroner's Office.

The murder charge was amended to second degree manslaughter, under a

plea agreement that was reached with Bertram last month. A charge of first

degree assault was amended to second degree assault and Bertram also entered

a guilty plea to that count. Leveridge also recommended a 10-year sentence

on that charge.

Bertram also pled guilty to a D.U.I. charge, as part of the agreement,

and Leveridge recommended a sentence of seven days on that count.

Under the agreement, the sentences would run concurrently for a total

of 10 years.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.