By DON O'BRIEN
Herald-Whig Staff Writer
A Fowler teen pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of aggravated driving under the influence in connection with a December crash near Paloma that left him and a Missouri woman critically injured.
Luke A. Genenbacher, 18, changed his plea in exchange for a felony probation sentence after reaching an agreement with the Adams County state's attorney's office. Genenbacher had pleaded not guilty during a June court appearance. He would have been eligible for up to 12 years in prison and a $25,000 fine had he been convicted.
Judge William Mays will sentence Genenbacher on Dec. 20.
The Illinois State Police reported that Genenbacher was southbound in a Chevrolet pickup truck on County Road 1750 East at 10:50 p.m. Dec. 16 when he drove through the stop sign at the intersection of U.S. 24 midway between Paloma and Coatsburg. Genenbacher's truck struck the passenger side of a GMC Yukon driven by Brian B. Shimp, 36, of Frankford, Mo.
Police said the westbound Shimp vehicle rolled over and came to rest on its side. Genenbacher was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from his truck.
Both drivers and a passenger in Shimp's vehicle, Lisa A. Shimp, 39, were taken to Blessing Hospital in Quincy. Genenbacher and Lisa Shimp suffered critical injuries.
Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Cifaldi said during Thursday's plea hearing that Lisa Shimp had a lengthy hospital stay after suffering fractured ribs, a broken back and a fractured ankle. Genenbacher is paralyzed and in a wheelchair as the result of his injuries.
Cifaldi said Genebacher had consumed alcohol at a party at Brandon Neisen's residence in Coatsburg before the accident. According to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab, Genenbacher had a blood-alcohol content of 0.145 percent, well above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Two other people were initially charged in connection with the crash.
Neisen, 22, was charged in March with two counts of contributing to the criminal delinquency of a minor, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of solicitation. The two felony counts were dismissed during a July 31 court hearing when no probable cause was found, and the state's attorney's office dismissed the misdemeanor count on Sept. 27.
Alania Genenbacher, 23, Luke's sister, was charged with giving or selling alcohol to a minor, a Class A misdemeanor. She entered an Alford plea on June 4 and was sentenced to 12 months of conditional discharge and was ordered to pay $907 in fines by Nov. 30.
The Shimps filed a civil lawsuit against Luke Genenbacher in June. The Shimps are asking for a sum in excess of $50,000 for injuries suffered in the accident.
-- dobrien@whig.com/221-3370
