Warsaw Man Pleads Guilty To OWI Causing Death
WARSAW — A Warsaw man has pleaded guilty to three felonies related to a deadly traffic accident in April.
Chaise R. Belcher, 26, Warsaw, withdrew his original not guilty plea while in court on Tuesday, Sept. 26. He is now pleading guilty to OWI causing death with a BAC of .08 or more, a level 4 felony, and two counts of OWI causing serious bodily injury, level 5 felonies. By pleading guilty, three other charges were dropped.
The case stems from a traffic accident on April 16. Belcher was intoxicated and traveling westbound on US 30 where he failed to stop at a red light at the intersection of US 30 and SR 5, Larwill. He collided with a vehicle driven by Phillip D. Caudill, 16, Warsaw, who was heading northbound on SR 5. Caudill and passenger Jacob Burchett, 18, Warsaw, both sustained major injuries and were transported to Parkview Regional. Passenger Jack Burchett, 17, suffered fatal injuries.
The court took Belcher’s guilty plea under advisement and ordered a presentence investigation. Sentencing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on Oct. 30.
Belcher will remain in the Whitley County Jail until his presentencing investigation interview is completed on Sept. 29. He will then travel back to the Kosciusko County Jail.