Columbia man accused in electrocution death pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who was accused in a 2022 Boone County electrocution death pleaded guilty earlier this week to a pair of felonies.

Justin Scott Trader, 31, pleaded guilty on Monday to second-degree involuntary manslaughter and first-degree tampering with a vehicle. He was originally charged with second-degree murder, vehicle tampering and first-degree property damage. A sentencing hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10.

Trader was charged in relation to a Sept. 11, 2022, crash and electrocution near Hartsburg. Andrew Moss intentionally crashed a Jeep into a utility pole, according to court documents in previous reporting.

Moss and another man stole the Jeep and planned to drive it into the Missouri River so its owner couldn't make a court appearance the next day, court documents in previous reporting say. Moss drove into the pole to cause damage before driving the Jeep into the river, but was electrocuted by downed power lines when he stepped out, investigators wrote.

Trader gave Moss and another person the key to the Jeep and helped them plan the theft, court documents claimed.