A former Alabama astronaut, who was previously indicted on reckless murder charges in the 2016 traffic deaths of two young girls, pleaded guilty to reduced charges and ordered to spend the next four years behind bars.
A former Space Shuttle commander will spend at least four years in jail after an appearance today in a Tuscaloosa courtroom. James Halsell, 64, of Huntsville, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault in the deaths of two young girls in a car crash. According to Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb, Halsell pleaded guilty to the maximum sentence of 20 years under the manslaughter .
Former Astronaut Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter In Death Of Two Girls, Gets Four Years
“My daughters were amazing, beautiful, smart, strong little girls that could have been anything in this world if they had the opportunity to grow up, but that was taken from me and all of everyone else in this world,” the mother of 11-year-old Niomi Deona James and 13-year-old Jayla Latrick Parler said after the plea. James Halsell Jr. Photo: AP
A former Alabama astronaut pleaded guilty to manslaughter and assault in the death of two young girls and will spend 4 years behind bars, but the victims’ family has argued that the plea deal “wasn’t justice.”