Bertram sentenced to 10 years in prison

Melodie Phelps, News Editor
Wayne County Outlook

Monticello May 13, 2008 03:49 pm

— 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.