Man accused in August 2023 fatal boat crash enters Alford plea
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Sunrise Beach man who was accused of causing a fatal boat crash last year at the Lake of the Ozarks entered an Alford plea on Monday.
Bobby Gene Childers, 61, entered an Alford plea for boating while intoxicated – causing the death of another, BWI causing serious physical injury and BWI involving physical injury.
An Alford plea occurs when a defendant maintains their innocence but admits evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if the case went to trial. A sentencing hearing is set for 1 p.m. Thursday, March 6 at the Camden County Courthouse.
According to previous reporting, a crash occurred just before 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, at the 24 mile marker on the main channel at the lake. Nicholette McKenna, 44, was killed in the crash that occurred when the boat got too close to the dock, hit a wake and then hit the breakwater, according to the report.
The report indicates that two other people were injured and brought to Lake Regional Hospital.
Court documents in previous reporting say Childers was also injured and that his blood alcohol content was .161.
