Houser enters not guilty plea in hit-and-run
February 2, 2009
Shannon Houser entered a plea of not guilty for charges of leaving the scene of an accident, tampering with physical evidence and possession of marijuana. Houser is charged in connection with the April hit-and-run death of UK student Connie Blount.
“I don’t believe I did any of this,” Houser told Judge James Ishmael at his hearing Monday morning in Fayette County Circuit Court.
Ishmael advised Houser to only enter a guilty plea if he believed he committed the crime.
“It must be freely and voluntarily your decision with the advice of your attorney,” Ishmael said. Houser’s attorney Edward Dove had no comment.
Houser’s trial will begin Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. in Fayette County Circuit Court. Jury selection will happen Monday night.
Connie Blount’s father, Jack Blount, is in Lexington for the trial and was present at the hearing Monday morning. Blount said Sunday he thought Houser would enter a guilty plea.
Blount said entering a not guilty plea might be a delay tactic for Houser to prolong the hearing.
“(Houser) has done a good job of that for almost a year now,” Blount said Sunday.
Houser said he “didn’t mean to complicate or drag this out,” but he had some things to “take care of.”
“I have some things I need to complete, I need to take care of,” Houser said at the hearing. “I wouldn’t be a very good man if I didn’t complete these things.”
Blount said while he was disappointed Houser entered a not guilty plea, he knew the prosecutors were ready to go to trial. He also said he is working to get legislation changed so there will be a stricter punishment for those convicted of a hit-and-run.
“I want this to be a felony in every state,” Blount said. “As long as the law allows people to benefit from running away from the scene, they will.”