Brandi Weidner Pleads Guilty in Case of Gunnar McNeill's Death

 

SAN ANGELO, TX — Brandi Weidner pleaded guilty for her involvement in the death of Gunnar McNeill. She was facing a trial later this month for Accident Involving Death.

Weidner was accused of running down with the car she was driving a pedestrian on N. Bryant in the early morning hours of Dec. 23, 2014.

Gunnar McNeill was found dead on the right side of the roadway in the 3700 block of N. Bryant Blvd. with wounds consistent with being hit by a vehicle.

Acting on an anonymous tip, police eventually traced the vehicle to Weidner’s car and she told investigators she thought she struck a deer. Police arrested Weidner on April 25, 2016 and she posted a $5,000 bond.

Brandi Weidner was arrested for DWI early Thursday morning.

Above: Brandi Weidner.

Her indictment accused her of knowingly driving a vehicle that became involved in an accident that did result in death to Gunner McNeill, and then, knowing that an accident had occurred, intentionally failed to stop and render aid to McNeill.

In court Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., accompanied by her new state-appointed attorney Joe Hernandez, Weidner cried only once during the plea process, when Judge Jay Weatherby said she faced as many as 20 years in the state penitentiary.

Accident Involving Death is a Second Degree Felony and the punishment is two to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. Weidner agreed to allow Judge Weatherby assign the punishment in a hearing set for Dec. 20 at 9 a.m.

In court this afternoon, as Weidner heard her admonishments from Judge Weatherby, Jason Ferguson represented the State. There were no family members or friends in the courtroom on Weidner’s side. For the victim, Gunnar McNeill’s mother was present along with a representative from the victim’s advocacy office.

Weidner drew attention to her case when she was arrested and jailed Oct. 4 for DWI. Her bond was increased to $150,000 for the DWI and she is currently being held in the Tom Green County Jail for the DWI charge.

Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily

The LIVE! Daily is the "newspaper to your email" for San Angelo. Each content-packed edition has weather, the popular Top of the Email opinion and rumor mill column, news around the state of Texas, news around west Texas, the latest news stories from San Angelo LIVE!, events, and the most recent obituaries. The bottom of the email contains the most recent rants and comments. The LIVE! daily is emailed 5 days per week. On Sundays, subscribers receive the West Texas Real Estate LIVE! email.

Required

Most Recent Videos

Comments

Brandi's plea of guilt is all Kerry Sharp ever wanted, God is good! Personally, I think she deserves 20 years behind bars so she can feel the pain of not having her children as Kerry has to feel every day for the rest of her life.

Molly Teague, you are exactly right. All I have ever wanted was her acknowledgement of her actions. I do not want to say what she deserves, she can Never pay me for what she took from me. But I know her children deserve better. Look what she has taken from them

It is a pity that Ms. Weidner didn't just pull over and render aid. I get the fact that if you have had to much to drink that you don't have the best judgement but this is a persons life. I have hit a deer, guess what, I pulled over to make sure what I had hit, make sure that it wasn't still alive and hurting and check out the damage. Leaving the scene and not admitting her guilt immediately made this much worse on her and the victims family. I hope this gives Mrs. Sharp some closure.

Post a comment to this article here: