Client of Edwards and Kautz Facing Second-Degree Manslaughter Found Not Guilty

Attorney Dave Bundrick Successfully Defends Client Facing 20 Years in Prison Paducah, Kentucky: Criminal defense attorney Dave Bundrick successfully defended a client accused of second-degree manslaughter, knowing abuse of an adult by a caretaker, and first-degree criminal abuse. Bundrick and his client originally accepted a plea bargain that was rejected by the judge before the trial date was set. Prosecutors offered a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in exchange for a guilty plea to wanton abuse by a caretaker. Wanton abuse refers to disregarding a substantial risk that a person is being abused. After Bundrick and his client had accepted the offer, a judge rejected it because he found that the sentence was too lenient. The case was scheduled for a three-day trial, starting Wednesday, March 25.  After the conclusion of the evidence Thursday afternoon, the judge threw out the charge first degree criminal abuse, ruling that the state could not pursue both types of abuse charges. The jury deliberated for 65 minutes and returned with a verdict of “Not Guilty” on the counts of second-degree manslaughter and knowing criminal abuse. The client received a misdemeanor conviction for reckless abuse of an adult by a caretaker, which could have carried up to a year in jail. The jury then deliberated on punishment for less than 15 minutes, returning to the courtroom with a final sentence of a single fine. Edwards and Kautz congratulates Dave Bundrick on another successful trial. Bundrick is a graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Law and joined the firm in 2010. Before joining the firm, he was a public defender for four years, trying cases from minor traffic offenses to murder. About Edwards and Kautz: Edwards and Kautz have over 60 years of combined experience practicing personal injury, car wreck, and criminal defense in Paducah, Kentucky. They serve most of Western Kentucky, as well as the surrounding area.