Jury begins punishment deliberations in Lynda Mescher case
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The jury is deliberating the fate of a horse ranch owner involved in a wreck that killed an 11-year-old girl and injured five other children.
Lynda Mescher pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier this week and could face prison time.
She is also charged with one count of injury to a child with serious bodily injury and four counts of injury to a child in connection to the rollover.
The accident happened in January of 2009. At the time, Mescher was running the Silver Trails Horse Ranch where the children attended camp.
The children were riding in the back of the pickup truck when it rolled over.
Both sides in this case presented their final arguments before the court Thursday, each closing with strong statements.
"This is a good woman who deserves a second chance. She deserves it because of her life, not just because she steps up and says, ‘I want probation.’ That's not why she deserves it. She deserves it because of the years she's put in to our community," defense attorney Eddie Shell said.
"Please send a message. Please make Burnet County a safe county. If it saves one life of a child, it is worth it," prosecutor Cheryl Nelson said.
The jury began deliberations at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
If she doesn't get probation, Mescher could face up to 20 years in prison.