Cameron woman pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter
A Cameron woman pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the traffic death of a rural Cameron resident in August 2014.
In a court appearance in Plattsburg before associate circuit judge Daren L. Adkins, Jacqueline McQuinn waived formal arraignment and entered the guilty plea on Sept. 17.
McQuinn was arrested by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and was originally charged by Clinton County prosecuting attorney Joseph Gagnon with a Class B felony of involuntary manslaughter, 1st degree; and operated motor vehicle while in an intoxicated condition – caused the death of a nonpassenger/two or more persons/blood alcohol content .18 percent or more in a traffic accident that resulted in the death of 72-year-old Charles O. Cooper of Cameron.
During McQuinn’s court appearance, the prosecutor amended the charge to a Class D felony of involuntary manslaughter.
Judge Adkins ordered a sentencing assessment report and a hearing will be held within the next 60 days.
The accident occurred on August 4, 2014 on U.S. Highway 69, two miles south of Cameron.
Cooper was driving a 2006 Land Pride Treker utility vehicle and traveled off private property onto southbound U.S. 69 when his utility vehicle was struck in the left front side by a 2005 Pontiac Grand Am driven southbound by McQuinn. The Treker spun 180 degrees and Cooper was ejected, landing in the northbound lane of the highway. McQuinn was able to bring her vehicle to a controlled stop on the southbound shoulder following the accident.
