Staff writer
On Nov. 3, the question of whether or not Chad Carr would be found guilty in the March 27, 2010 death of 19-month old Vincent Hill in North Newton, was answered.
Carr agreed to plead guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in the toddler’s death in a plea agreement that will see him serve about 20 years in prison. The agreement also resulted in Carr pleading guilty to three counts of aggravated battery and one count of child abuse.
A pornography charge of sexual exploitation of a child, not related to the Hill case, was dismissed in the plea agreement.
Under the plea agreement, Carr will have no chance for appeal or probation. He will be given credit for the time he has served since his arrest and could be released up to three years early for good behavior.
Following the hearing, Harvey County Attorney David Yoder held a press conference in the courtroom. As part of his prepared statement, he said that the plea agreement was a way of being certain that Carr saw significant prison time and that he admitted guilt.
“Do I feel good about it?” he asked. “No. Do I feel certain that we reached resolution and Chad will be punished? Yes. He will be in his mid-to-late 40s when he is released.”
Judge Walker will sentence Carr on Jan. 17, 2012.