Huntsville astronaut, former Space Shuttle commander pleads guilty in deaths of 2 girls
Jim Halsell Jr
Posted: May 27, 2021 1:06 PM
Updated: May 27, 2021 2:39 PM
Posted By: Josh Rayburn, Stephen Gallien
Former Astronaut and Space Shuttle Commander Col. Jim Halsell Jr. pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter and assault for his involvement in a 2016 wreck that killed two girls.
He had originally been charged with reckless murder.
The wreck took place on Highway 82 in Tuscaloosa County. Niomi Deona James, 11, and Jayla Latrick Parler, 13, were killed in the crash.
Halsell was sentenced to serve four years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.
He immediately was taken into custody Thursday and placed in the Tuscaloosa County jail.