AG Marshall announces Court of Criminal Appeals upholds manslaughter conviction in Autauga County
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Special to the News
Attorney General Steve Marshall announced last Thursday that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction of Kelly N. Dingler, 39, of Prattville, for manslaughter.
Dingler was convicted in Autauga County Circuit Court on July 19, 2021, for the manslaughter of Larue Bandy.
The evidence at trial showed that in March 2017, Dingler was driving a Ford Explorer on Autauga County Road 85. The victim, Larue Bandy, was working on replacing a bridge on that road, and Dingler breached three barricades before reaching the construction site.
As a result, Dingler’s SUV became airborne and traveled approximately 30 yards before striking the bridge foundation. The victim, who was working at the base of the foundation, was killed after being struck by Dingler’s vehicle.
Dingler’s first trial ended in a mistrial, and she subsequently pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter.
Autauga County District Attorney Randall Houston’s office successfully prosecuted this case and obtained a guilty verdict. Dingler was sentenced to 173 months’ imprisonment for her crime. Dingler sought to have her conviction reversed on appeal.
“Kelly Dingler’s reckless driving resulted in the death of a construction worker and cost her a sentence of over 14 years in prison for manslaughter,” said Attorney General Marshall.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division handled the case during the appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm Dingler’s conviction. The court did so in a decision issued Friday, August 26, 2022.
Attorney General Marshall commended Assistant Attorney General William Dill for his successful work on this case and thanked Autauga County District Attorney Randall Houston and his staff for their valuable assistance in defending the manslaughter conviction.