Man Pleads Guilty In Dragging Injury [AUDIO]

The man accused of dragging a woman down Evansville Streets changed his plea Friday in District Court in Casper. Pleads guilty to DUI causing injury:

Twenty-year-old Dustin Lance Jones was arrested in February after police found a woman face down in a pool of blood near the intersection of 7th Street and Bozeman Trail. Jones was found a few blocks away passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle.

In a plea agreement with prosecution, Jones pleaded guilty to driving under the influence causing serious bodily harm. The agreement asked that two other charges be dismissed and 6-to-8-year cap be put on the sentence.

At the hearing, Jones testified that he was so drunk that he didn't remember the incident. Assistant Public Defender Kerri Johnson qualified that he was not disputing that he did it, just that he couldn't remember.

Assistant District Attorney Dan Itzen outlined the state's case, including expert testimony that there were footprints in the snow that indicated there was a struggle for who would drive the vehicle. Jone's girlfriend received severe injuries after being dragged 250 feet.

District Court Judge Catherine Wilking found there was sufficient cause to hear a change of plea, accepted the guilty plea, and dismissed the other two charges. Judge Wilking also continued bond and reminded Jones that he agreed to a cold plea provision, which means that if he gets any trouble, even while in custody, the sentencing cap goes away and he could get the maximum penalties.

After a pre-sentence investigation, Jones will be sentenced at a later date. He remains at the Natrona County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.