A plea of 'no contest' today from the 21 year old Real County man who was behind the wheel of the pickup that slammed head on into a bus from First Baptist Church of New Braunfels last year, leaving 13 parishoners dead, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
A 'no contest' plea is essentially the same as a guilty plea. It essentially means the defendant concedes he or she will be convicted and decided not to fight the charge.
The defendant does not admit guilt, but has a criminal record and faces punishment similar to a guilty plea.
Jack Young, 21, was under the influence of prescription drugs that can cause drowsiness and was also texting in March of 2017 when he repeatedly crossed the center line of US 83, eventually slamming into the bus that was transporting church members home from a retreat for retired church members.
Young was charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.
Interestingly, the no contest plea did not come with a sentencing agreement. Sentencing begins in November, and Young is facing up to 270 years in prison.
Relatives of the victims will have the right to testify at his sentencing hearing.