After several delays to trial and lengthy negotiations, Jaden Johnson entered a guilty plea in connection with the crash that killed Adrian Tucker in 2023.
Johnson appeared in Christian Circuit Court Friday afternoon to enter a guilty plea to the charge of second-degree manslaughter, with special prosecutor Richie Kemp detailing that it comes with a five-year recommended sentence—Johnson must serve 80 percent of that time before becoming parole eligible.
Public defender Eric Bearden requested that separate sentencing be waived, saying a Pre-Sentencing Investigation report was already recently compiled and would serve in this as well. Kemp objected to a separate sentencing, saying Tucker’s mother and other family members would like to speak to the court for victim impact statements.
Judge John Atkins ruled to do a bit of both—separate sentencing was waived, but a hearing was set for November 7, where family members will be able to speak their impact statements to the court.
Johnson was sentenced and remanded to the custody of the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
Johnson is charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection with a crash on Bill Bryan Boulevard in 2023 that resulted in the death of 34-year-old Adrian Tucker. The Hopkinsville Police Department reported that Johnson had been operating the vehicle at speeds of around 90 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour speed zone.
Tucker had to be extricated from his vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the scene.