Published: February 04, 2009 01:37 pm      

Southern Indiana driver who struck bicyclist reaches plea deal

20-year-old could be sentenced to 25 years in prison

A 20-year-old pleaded guilty Tuesday morning to attempted murder for striking a bicyclist with his car in New Washington.

Justin Keith Simpson, 20, also pleaded guilty to five counts of class C felony burglary and three counts of class D felony theft on the day he was scheduled to begin trial. He could face up to 25 years in prison.

By accepting the plea deal, Simpson admitted that on July 27, 2006, he tried to kill then-32-year-old Eric May.

According to court documents, a witness reported that a tan Mercury Sable appeared to speed up and drive off the roadway striking then-32-year-old Eric May, who was riding his bike along Gill Road. The witness said that Simpson then got out of the vehicle and began yelling “that’s what you get” before driving off. Police located Simpson at the 5700 block of New Washington-Bethlehem Road.

“Eric May had a head injury, and he had a leg that was lacerated very severely and may still have to be amputated,” said Jeremy Mull, chief deputy prosecutor for Clark County.

Simpson initially told investigators that he knew nothing about the crash before saying it was an accident. Simpson then reportedly admitted he intentionally ran over May and approached him with a steel bar. He said he planned to “finish him” before he noticed witnesses were there.

Mull said the judge will have the discretion to determine the sentence with a cap of 25 years for the attempted murder case. The minimum sentence recommended for a class A felony is 20 years in prison. Sentencing is set for 3 p.m. March 2.

Simpson’s attorney, Niles Driskell, said the attempted murder case and the burglary and theft cases will run concurrently.

“We believe this was a fair resolution and was a way to reach a compromise on both cases,” he said.

Authorities have said the two cases may be linked.

Shortly after the wreck, police said May was possibly attacked because Simpson thought he was feeding information to county police about a burglary ring Simpson was part of. Police say May was never an informant.

A search warrant had been executed at the home of Donnie Wells — also believed to be in the burglary ring — just days before the attack.

Wells received 12 months of probation for class D felony receiving stolen property.

Adrian Louis May — also linked to the burglary ring — has been charged with class C felony burglary, class D felony theft, class D felony receiving stolen property and class A misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia.

His jury trial is scheduled for April 7.