In Dekalb County, Indiana, a man who is accused of fatally striking an Indiana State Trooper with his vehicle in 2023 has recently pleaded guilty to some of the charges he is facing. The plea comes nearly two years after the tragic incident occurred.
Terry Sands II has entered a guilty plea for two charges in DeKalb Superior Court. The charges include resisting law enforcement, classified as a Level 2 felony, and aggravated battery, classified as a Level 3 felony. These charges are among the lesser offenses Sands faced, as he was also charged with murder and driving with a controlled substance causing death. The court documents were filed on January 17.
On March 3, 2023, a tragic incident occurred on Interstate 69 involving Master Trooper James Bailey. He was in the process of placing stop sticks on the road to deter Sands, a speeding driver. Unfortunately, the driver crashed into Trooper Bailey, resulting in a devastating outcome.
According to court documents, Sands claimed that he was only driving at a speed of 70 mph when Bailey unexpectedly ran out in front of him. However, several witnesses stated that Sands was actually traveling between 80 and 90 mph and deliberately drove straight toward the trooper.
During the police investigation, Sands openly confessed to smoking marijuana shortly before the accident and revealed that he was actually heading to Michigan to purchase more.
The court has set a date for his sentencing, which is scheduled for February 27th at 10 a.m. During this hearing, he could potentially face a prison term ranging from 10 to 46 years.
In honor of Bailey’s memory, a section of I-69 stretching from CR 11A to SR 8 has been designated as the “Master Trooper James R. Bailey Memorial Highway.”