HUNTSVILLE - Cordell Lee Ashby, 20, must turn himself over to the Madison County sheriff’s office within the next 30 days to begin serving a three-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to five charges that stem from the April 28 death of a 15-year-old girl at his former residence in Alabam.
As part of an agreement, Ashby pleaded guilty Thursday in Madison County District Court to two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two counts of furnishing alcohol to minors, both Class A misdemeanors. He also pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of obstructing governmental operations.
Madison County District Judge Dale Ramsey sentenced Ashby to one year in jail, but suspended nine months of the sentence provided that Ashby has no more alcohol-related offenses or other serious offenses for the next 12 months. Ramsey also fined Ashby $700.
“A pretty tragic death occurred, and the court’s well aware of that,” Ramsey said in court Thursday. “I’m going to approve this as a reasonable resolution to this case.”
Each of the four Class A misdemeanor convictions carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
“This was a terrible tragedy, and everybody feels very remorseful for the family of the deceased,” said Terry Harper, a Fayetteville attorney representing Ashby. “My client has agreed to the terms. I believe it to be fair and reasonable.”
The sheriff’s office investigated Ashby and a roommate, Michael Alan Brockelsby, 25, after the April 28 death of 15-year-old Andrea Carreno of Huntsville. The state Crime Laboratory found that Carreno had a blood-alcohol level of 0.37 percent. The Crime Lab reported that Carreno died of acute alcohol intoxication.
Detectives with the sheriff ’s office found out that Carreno attended a party at the Alabam residence of thetwo men. Ashby was arrested May 1 and released on a $1,675 bond. Brockelsby was arrested May 6 and released on a $1,750 bond.
Detectives said they believe the men provided Carreno and another girl with alcohol. Additional charges were filed because of false statements the men gave to cover up the underage drinking at the home, which prolonged the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.
Bill Allred, deputy prosecuting attorney for Madison County, has said Carreno voluntarily drank the alcohol.
Brockelsby was not prosecuted on the charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor or furnishing alcohol to a minor because of statements from two co-workers from Harps Foods. They reported in an affidavit that at 8 p.m. April 28, the store had electrical trouble with a refrigeration system. Brockelsby, who was working as assistant store manager, came to the store about 9:15 p.m. that evening to work on the equipment and remained at the store until 2:30 a.m. the following day.
Northwest Arkansas, Pages 7 on 11/15/2013